When I first walked into a therapist’s office, one of my biggest fears was simple:
What if I cry? What if I tremble speaking up about what’s bothering me?
I had so many questions running through my mind:
What if my therapist judges me,
What if I lose control,
or what if I am not even able to open up?
If you’ve been wondering about emotions during therapy, you’re not alone.
Many people worry about how they’ll react when faced with talking about feelings they’ve kept buried. These are the things they never shared with anybody and the pain they have been suffering from silently.
The truth?
Therapy is one of the safest spaces to let your guard down, and yes, it can definitely bring up emotions. But that’s not something to be scared of, it’s actually going to help you with letting it out.
It’s actually a sign of healing.
Why Do We Get Emotional in Therapy?
Therapies are planned in a way that will help you in venting out completely.
The environment in therapy is designed to help you feel seen, heard, and understood. These are the safest places where you can vent your stress, problems, and worries, and you will never be judged.
For many people, this is the first time they’ve been able to talk openly about their struggles without fear of judgment.
Naturally, that can trigger strong emotions.
Emotions during therapy often come from finally permitting yourself to express what you feel.
Sometimes, you’ve carried pain, stress, or trauma for years, and when you begin to unpack it, your body and mind respond with tears, relief, or even discomfort.
That’s normal.
Once you begin talking about all that is bothering you, you start to heal right there and healing comes with emotions falling out.
Crying in Therapy Sessions Is Common
I recall being surprised at how quickly tears came to my eyes during my first session.
At first, I thought it was embarrassing and I should just wipe my tears and control myself immediately.
But my therapist reassured me that crying in therapy sessions is not only common but actually healthy. It will help me release all the stress and help me move on.
Think about it:
When you’re dealing with difficult emotions, your body has to release that tension somewhere.
Tears are a natural way to process.
So if you’re wondering, is it normal to cry in therapy?
the answer is absolutely yes.
Many people cry, and it’s the safest outlet.
Feeling Emotional After Therapy
Sometimes the emotions don’t end when you leave the room.
You may notice yourself feeling emotional after therapy,
even hours later.
That’s because your brain and heart are still processing what came up. You keep remembering how you got emotional and literally let those feelings out to a stranger. But you know that was the best part of the entire therapy, and you could trust that stranger with all that you shared.
Think of it like exercising a muscle: therapy works out your emotional “muscles,” and just like a workout, it can leave you sore afterward.
This isn’t something to avoid, though.
Feeling tender after a session often means you’re doing the real work.
It’s a step toward emotional healing through therapy, and with time, those feelings become easier to handle. And you start letting go of those heavy feelings, the exact feelings that you felt when that trauma took place. You start feeling those emotions and start healing. Now that doesn’t mean your emotion
Why This Is a Good Thing
It’s easy to assume that crying or feeling heavy emotions means you’re doing something wrong in therapy.
But in reality, it’s the opposite.
Strong emotions mean you’re hitting the core of what’s been bothering you.
You’re not just talking about surface-level issues, but you’re actually allowing yourself to heal, allowing yourself to flow the feelings out of yourself, the ones that are bothering you, and to keep the ones that will help heal you.
Emotional healing through therapy doesn’t happen overnight, but each time you allow yourself to feel, you’re building strength and resilience.
If you are looking for a therapist and don’t know where to start, you can look for online Mental Health Counselors in California, like Wholesome Psych. The process and booking for online therapy sessions are the easiest to go for.