Topic: counseling-fundamentals

Question: Is it normal to cry at therapy?
Is it normal for people to cry during therapy, or is it just me?

Answer (from Leah ElvitskyHelping you thrive and not just survive.):
Absolutely it's normal to cry in therapy sessions. Sometimes clients have stories they never shared with anyone or never said out loud and that results to crying. Crying is a normal reaction to feeling hurt or sad or sometimes angry. I welcome all crying to my therapy room.

Answer (from Elizabeth GentzkowStop letting anxiety, stress, and frustration run your life.):
It is generally very normal to cry in therapy, and for many reasons. Therapy should be a safe space to explore emotions as they come up and how you cope with these emotions. I would encourage you to talk with your therapist about crying and to explore your experience of emotions/feelings. Sometimes people will apologize for crying. However, emotions and expression of emotions is part of being human. There is no "right" or "wrong" emotion to have. How we express and cope with emotions is more of something to explore in therapy if it is hindering your life. Either extreme of keeping emotions in and avoiding or feeling like your emotions run your life/struggle to regulate your emotions is something to explore in therapy, as this is often the most distressing and troublesome for people. Hopefully this provides some insight.

Answer (from Ian Palombo#ThoughtMediator & #LifeUntangler):
It's more than just normal, it's expected! Quite honestly, there are a very few days where at least one client hasn't cried during therapy throughout the day. -IJP

Answer (from Pamela SuraciBuild on your strengths, grow in your challenge areas and improve your life!):
Yes it is absolutely normal!  A good therapist can help your feel safe enough to really identify painful wounds.  There are some things that need to be cried about before they can heal.  Therapists are fine with tears and buy tissues by the case.  That said, if you don't cry during therapy it doesn't mean you are doing it "wrong".  As long as you feel safe and have a sense that your therapist "gets you", and you feel progress during your course of treatment, you are doing therapy "right"!

Answer (from Ronica ClarkYou have questions I'm willing to try to give an answer):
It's normal many times we are not able to cry in our day to day. When you are able to open up the tears come to.

Answer (from Dr. Meredyth LawrynceServing Clients Nationwide):
Yes, it is very normal to cry in therapy. Often times this is
a time when you can let your guard down, you can feel safe in this environment
and allow yourself to feel all your feelings. Feelings are valid.  We often hold our feelings, tears inside, and
once we feel safe, our bodies feel safe to release them.

Answer (from Dr. Joi LatsonLets start your journey today!):
Crying is a natural emotional. You are not alone. Crying can help you to feel relieved. Therapy is your journey, and there is no right or wrong emotion to feel while you are healing. Therapy is a place where you do not have to feel alone. It is also a place where you address things that you have never faces or suppressed for years. If you shed tears while doing that, I applaud you for having the courage to be on your therapeutic journey.

Answer (from Ashley "Ashton" BernalRenewed Hope Counseling):
It is completely NORMAL and can be incredibly helpful. Some times we just need to let things out with a good cry. Having a non-judgmental open space to do that be so therapeutic. It sounds like you are really putting in the work you are in need of.

Answer (from Elena Engle, LMHC, EMDRVery Good Counseling):
Yes, it’s normal to cry. It doesn’t matter if it happens in the therapy office or at home. Some people feel like there exposed or open when they do this or even guilt when in front of a therapist but this isn’t something to be concerned with. They are trained to be understand and empathize with there clients.

Answer (from Lauren BurokerI use a systems based approach - that means I help you figure out how you impact others and how they impact you!):
Therapy often brings up big emotions - and generally ones that we may have been pushing down for a long time! Crying is one of the ways that our body deals with a sudden change in emotions. It's a bodily function just like any other. There's no "normal" way to be in therapy, but crying is a frequent occurrence in the office; it's why most therapists have a tissue box close to where you sit!

Answer (from Erin Pritchard, MA, LPCC-S | EMDR IntensivesSea Glass Counseling and Consultation):
Yes! Definitely common for people to cry during a therapy session. For some folks, therapy is the safest place for them to truly allow themselves to have, or express, their emotions.

Answer (from Toni Teixeira, LCSWYour road to healing begins here):
Absolutely! It is very normal to cry during a therapy session. During a session lots of different feelings will come up. When sadness and grief show up you are going to feel them in your body and crying is our way of expressing them. Sometimes we even cry when we feel anger or joy.  Your therapist should provide a safe place for you to express all your feelings and help you process them. It is part of the work of therapy and it sounds like you are doing the work. Good luck to you!

Answer (from Pamela Silsby):
Absolutely!!!  Therapy is the place to be yourself!  The messy self that most people don’t get to see.  Therapy is not a time to be strong by holding in your emotions, it’s a time to be real.  Be honest with how you feel.

Answer (from Gayle WeillSpecializing in relationships and parenting - additional certifications in Child-parent psychotherapy, Circle of Security-Parenting program, adoption competency, hypnosis, and EMDR):
It is not just you! If you are crying during therapy, or if you are crying outside of therapy, that is a good thing! It means that you are allowing yourself to feel your feelings rather than push your feelings to the side and try to “get over them.” When a person allows themselves to cry they are doing important work to work through and get to the route of what they are feeling. Good for you! It is not easy to cry, especially in front of others, and it takes a strong person to try to work through their feelings by going to therapy.

Answer (from Damalie NamaleHealing relationships):
Absolutely crying is very normal in therapy for many reasons. Some people after a good cry feel better , in other words crying can be a stress reliever.  To other people who have never spoken about their pain, talking about it can trigger raw emotions and can lead to crying. To other people  who have never been heard, therapy can create an environment of being heard, which can be validating and healing.If your heart has experienced so much loss, it maybe grieving and the  tears are an expression of deep emotional pain.Sometimes your heart can experience so much joy and gratitude that crying maybe the way you express it.So if you find yourself crying in therapy, do not shame yourself. You are not being weak but expressing your emotions in a healthy way.

Answer (from Reggie Smith, LPC, CTP, CCATPTexas Couples, Anxiety, Trauma therapist):
Yes sir/maam it is ok and often good to do.  Sometimes there are cathartic moments, or a sense of loss, emotional memories (positive and less positive) that come up.  The thing is you have a licensed professional to hold space for you and to ensure you are safe.  They will attend to you and ensure you are in a decent place before the session ends.  We got you!