​Heal Play Love University- Narcissists and Brain Damage; Learning Disability | Interpersonal Dyslexia
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You're in therapy session and things are rolling along. You feel great! You are an awesome therapist.

Then bam- silence.

Awkward silence.

Oh no! Warning, Warning!

What do you do? Do you force them to talk? Do you excuse yourself and go to the bathroom?

How do therapist handle awkward silence?

First of all realize your panic may be more about you than about your client. You client might actually appreciate the much needed silence.

Perhaps they are getting more out of just sitting and being still in a safe and accepting environment than they could with much talking.

After some time, it might be appropriate to...

1) Observe their body language… “I notice you have tensed up…”
2) Observe their emotional expression... “Tell me what those tears are saying….”
3) Ask them to express what they are experiencing in the moment, “What’s going on right now? Think out loud for me.”

Don't try to fix them in the silence. It may come across as rejecting, even though we don't mean it to be. But to the client, they may feel a need to "perform" as a "good client" or feel like they aren't doing therapy right.

​Just BE with awkward silence. Healing can happen in the quiet.

As you become more comfortable with the therapeutic environment, this stuff will become natural.
 
Heal Play Love University (formerly Can We Talk) is a therapy channel on youtube where we discuss, well... therapy stuff. Licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), Director & Clinical Supervisor, Melinda Haynes will discuss random topics and answer questions.
 
Melinda Haynes, MA, LMFT lic no 102308 Author and Instructor for the first online National Supervised Visitation Monitor Certification, a training course for future providers of court-ordered visitation https://www.supervisedvisitationtraining.com/  
Questions you would like answered in a video? Contact me at [email protected]
 
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Heal Play Love University (formerly 'Can We Talk?') is a youtube channel dedicated to psychology, therapy, relationships, healthy living, well-being and the like.
 
This channel should not be considered therapy, nor a substitute for therapy. If you need help with any mental, emotional, family or relational struggle, please seek help from a qualified professional in your area.
 
 
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