Therapy After-Care

Therapy, much like a hard workout at the gym, can sometimes leave you feeling tender and in need of care. While emotional vulnerability or exhaustion does not necessarily mean that “good work” occurred in session, these experiences can be a natural side effect of engaging in meaningful emotional labor that moves you closer to your therapy goals. What happens after therapy can be just as important as what happens during the session itself, making it essential to be intentional about how you care for yourself afterward.

To maximize the benefits of therapy, taking time to reflect on and record insights or skills discussed in session can help integrate new learning. Immediately after therapy may not be the ideal time to lead a high-stakes meeting, attend a social gathering, or enter an emotionally charged situation. Instead, consider creating protected “you time” to process lingering emotions and engage in grounding or regulating practices as needed. And here’s the fun part: just as you might stretch, hydrate, or massage sore muscles after exercise, allow yourself to engage in activities that soothe and comfort you—whether that’s a cozy meal, a favorite movie, or reading Harry Potter in a lawn chair with a generous spread of chocolates.

Thoughtful after-care helps consolidate the work done in therapy, supporting both emotional recovery and long-term growth—because healing doesn’t end when the session does.