I'm Not Sure I Know How to Talk About My Feelings

One of the biggest worries people have before starting counselling is that they won't know what to say.

You might have spent years keeping your feelings to yourself. Perhaps you've always been the person who gets on with things, looks after everyone else or pushes difficult emotions aside. You know something doesn't feel right but when someone asks how you're doing, the words just don't seem to come.

If that sounds familiar, you're not alone.

You don't need to arrive at counselling knowing how to talk about your feelings. In fact, many people don't. Finding the words can take time, especially if you've never had the opportunity to talk openly before.

That's one of the reasons therapy exists.

Person-centred counselling isn't about expecting you to explain everything perfectly. We begin wherever you are. You might start by talking about your week, something that's been bothering you or simply by saying, "I don't really know why I'm here." That's enough.

As we get to know each other, people often find that the words begin to come more naturally. Not because they're being pushed but because they feel safe enough to explore thoughts and feelings they've never spoken out loud before.

Sometimes you might describe a feeling without knowing its name. Sometimes you might say something and realise halfway through that it means more than you first thought. We can be curious about those moments together. There isn't a test to pass or a right way to express yourself.

You don't have to be good at talking about your feelings to benefit from counselling. You just need a willingness to begin, however uncertain that first step feels.

At Pebbleshed Therapy, I offer online person-centred counselling for adults across the UK in a warm, accepting and non-judgemental space where you don't have to have the right words. If you'd like to find out whether counselling feels right for you, you're welcome to book a free 20-minute initial consultation. It's a relaxed opportunity to ask questions, find out how I work and see whether we'd like to work together, with no obligation to book further sessions.