Honesty & Vulnerability in Psychotherapy: The Real MVPs
Honesty and vulnerability—sounds heavy, right? But in therapy, these two are more like helpful tools than intimidating concepts. They’re the keys to growth, healing, and understanding yourself better (Leroux et al., 2023; Vandenberghe et al., 2023).
Being honest with your therapist isn’t just about listing facts or recounting your week like it’s a report. It’s about letting them into your world—thoughts, feelings, fears, and all. Yes, even the stuff you’d rather not talk about. It might feel a bit uncomfortable at first (okay, maybe a lot), but it helps your therapist know how to support you. After all, they can’t help you tackle what they don’t know about (Psychotherapy.net, n.d.).
Then there’s vulnerability. It’s not about spilling your guts all at once or feeling exposed every second—it’s about sharing what’s real for you. Vulnerability takes courage, sure, but it’s not a grand gesture; it’s those small, brave moments when you open up about what’s really going on. And no, it doesn’t mean you’re weak—it means you’re human, and that’s where growth begins (Vandenberghe et al., 2023).
But let’s be clear: therapy isn’t meant to leave you feeling raw all the time. It’s a safe space to dip a toe into those difficult waters and retreat when needed. Think of your therapist as your hiking buddy—they’re there to guide the pace and help you navigate the tricky terrain, not push you to scale the emotional equivalent of Everest on day one (Psychotherapy.net, n.d.).
Sure, facing uncomfortable truths or challenging emotions isn’t anyone’s idea of fun, but the benefits often outweigh the initial discomfort. Working through these moments can lead to insights that help you grow, break unhelpful patterns, and, over time, feel more aligned with the person you want to be (Leroux et al., 2023; Vandenberghe et al., 2023).
The best part? Honesty and vulnerability in therapy don’t have to be perfect. Start small. Share what you can, when you’re ready. Therapy is a process, not a performance, and progress happens one step at a time. Each bit of effort you put in adds up, and the results can be truly rewarding (Psychotherapy.net, n.d.).
So, take a breath, and remember: honesty and vulnerability might feel tricky, but they’re also the gateway to meaningful change. And that’s a journey worth taking.
Ready to take things to another level?
References:
Leroux, P., Sperlinger, D., & Worrell, M. (2023). Experiencing vulnerability and growth: A qualitative study of psychodynamic psychotherapy for depression. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 23(1), 71-81. https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12573
Psychotherapy.net. (n.d.). Honesty, Not Empathy, is the Greatest Gift a Clinician Can Offer. Retrieved from https://www.psychotherapy.net/blog/title/honesty-not-empathy-is-the-greatest-gift-a-clinician-can-offer
Vandenberghe, L., Kanter, J. W., & Holman, G. I. (2023). Promoting appetitive learning of consensual, empowered vulnerability. Frontiers in Psychology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1200452