Assisted by: Natasha Cooke, MA, LPC Associate 

 

Okay, so you’ve decided to go to therapy.

Now you’re wondering what that experience will be like. For example, what could you expect to find in your therapist’s room? Well, all therapy offices have their own unique vibe and energy. For my therapy office, I’ve chosen a relaxed vibe with various colors and patterns that help you feel more at ease.

 

What’s in My Therapy Room & Why

 

Feelings Wheel

When you walk into my office, you may notice that I have a colorful, framed feelings wheel on my wall. I know, it sounds a bit silly, but trust me when I tell you that it comes in handy. We are all familiar with the main emotions such as happiness, excitement, anger, fear, sadness, and disgust. However, therapy becomes much more powerful when we can break down those emotions and zero in on the feeling that’s weighing you down. For example, did you know that guilt can fall under sadness? What happens when we can describe how we’re feeling as betrayed, indignant, numb, withdrawn, distant, critical, or humiliated instead of simply saying we’re angry? Being able to correctly label one’s emotions is essential to growth on our mental health journey. That’s when the emotion wheel comes in handy. So, of course, if you get stuck in session and can’t figure out how to describe what you are experiencing, you can feel free to gaze up at the wall and thus pick a precise emotion.

 

Comfy Couch

Yes, it’s true. Comfy couches are a hallmark of therapy rooms. But no, we do not expect you to lay down and face away from your therapist while in session…unless you want to do so of course! My therapy room has a big cozy couch that will encourage you to feel comfortable and make you feel more at home. You can sit however you’d like – cross-cross-applesauce with a pillow in lap, sprawled out against the back cushions, or even upside down if it helps you! You can also feel free to just sit and perhaps hug a pillow or two. It’s totally up to you!

Worksheets

Now, I know this one isn’t for everyone. Some folks are wholeheartedly against using worksheets in therapy. Some clients have a robust preference to straightforward talk therapy. And that’s totally fine! However, for those of you that are visual learners, or enjoy something tangible to look at or work on, I have plenty of worksheets for you. Worksheets can be goal oriented, deal with feelings, explain cognitions and behaviors, or give you exercises to try in session or at home. For example, I may hand you a list of coping skills that can replace self-harm behaviors. If it’s your style, I’ve got all sorts of helpful worksheets. If it’s not, we can always rely on good-ole talk therapy. However, in my office, you’ve got options.

 

Soothing Wall Art

This is must, at least for me. What if you went to therapy only to find a boring room with plain grey or white walls and nothing more on them? That would feel odd and frankly quite strange. It’s always neat to have a poster or painting to tie the room together. In my office, you’ll see a variety of the famous Rorschach Inkblots on the wall. While I might not use them in a testing fashion, I find that some clients enjoy pausing for a moment in session to gauze up at the aesthetically pleasing Inkblots. As always, feel free to take some guesses at what you believe you are looking at! In addition to those paintings, I have some other neat trinkets and gadgets around my room that help you get a better idea of my personality. For example, I may have some Red Hot Chili Peppers and Schitt’s Creek items laying around. Thus, knowing a few fun facts about your therapist might help you feel more at ease during therapy.

 

Pillows/blankets/fidgets

As I mentioned earlier, along with a comfy couch, you’ll find some pillows in my office. Clients often find it comforting to have them on or near themselves. So, if you’re feeling a bit on edge during session, you are more than welcome to hold on to a pillow or to. And oh yeah, remember the feelings wheel poster I have on my wall? Well, I’ve got it in pillow form too!

And finally, to further increase your comfort level and decrease your anxiety level, I even have some fun fidgets that you can use in session!

 

Kleenex

Yep, Kleenex is also a cliché when you imagine what therapists might have in their offices. But tissue is something you’ll find in just about any therapy room you step into. Even though you believe you’ll never use it, it’s always great to have it handy in case you forget or don’t carry around your own tissues or handkerchiefs.

 

Begin Therapy in Katy, TX

 

If you are ready to feel like your best self, the therapists at Barton Counseling Services can help! We provide counseling for men and women, as well as group counseling. To begin counseling in Katy, TX follow these three steps:

 

1. Contact our office to set up an appointment or to get more information about counseling.
2. Meet with one of our caring therapists.
3. Find ways to improve the quality of your life today!

 

Other Therapy Services We Offer

 

Other Therapy Services We Offer: 

Here at Barton Counseling Services, we offer counseling services for people of all ages in areas including counseling for young adults, teen counseling, anxiety treatment, depression therapy, family therapy, and group counseling. Our therapists strive to post blogs regularly. We provide helpful information on a variety of mental health topics. To learn more about our therapists and our counseling services, please reach out to the Counseling Center today!