Typically, therapy is a time for venting about loved ones, discussing work stressors, or meditating on monumental childhood events. The uncomfortable truths from these deep conversations often involve your behavior, your thought process, how you treat people, and more.
Psychotherapist and CEO of The Black Girl Doctor, Taisha Caldwell-Harvey, says these moments can feel like breakthroughs or “aha moments.” Despite being scary, these realizations provide an essential growing opportunity.
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Karen Oliver, Brown University psychiatry and human behavior associate professor, believes that a breakthrough moment is essential to the intermediate step in therapy. It can help you set further goals in therapy sessions. This is what to know when you have life-changing realizations in therapy.
Not Every Session Has An Aha Moment
When your therapist tells you something fascinating, that’s not a breakthrough. To deal with it and come to terms with it, you need a significant shift in how you view life.
Process Your New Realizations
Coming to terms with a breakthrough takes time. Tai suggests you take the time to process this breakthrough mentally. Here’s what you can do when practicing intentional thinking:
- Identify the realization
- Identify the source of this belief
- Consider the impact of this assumption
- With this information at your fingertips, determine how you want to be different
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Think Before Responding To Situations
Your future self will be proud of you if you take five minutes to breathe deeply. As well as helping you realize how you feel, this can also help you commit to new goals due to your “aha moment.”
Talking To Loved Ones Can Be Helpful
If you are aware of your struggle and your intention to act differently, you may be less likely to revert to old habits. Trying out new behaviors or routines may be more understandable if they know you’re changing.