At the end of your therapy session, we will typically discuss whether you would like to do some therapy homework. Engaging in therapy homework (at my suggestion or at your own choosing) will support you to deepen into and document your inner journey between therapy sessions.
Examples of Therapy Homework
~ Journaling - either art journaling or written journaling
~ Recording your nighttime dreams
~ Creating expressive art such as drawings, collages or paintings
~ Writing an honest poem
~ Completing therapy worksheets that I offer
~ Writing letters to people (that you may or may not send)
~ Setting up and attending to a new meditation practice
~ Making a list of what inspires you.
~ Creating goal lists.
~ Documenting key insights between your sessions
~ Reading a book that relates your therapy process
Benefits of Doing Therapy Homework
Continued Growth: The time between therapy sessions can vary. You might prefer to meet weekly, bi-monthly, monthly, etc., yet no matter the time frame, having something to work on until your next session can significantly amplify your personal growth.
Extra Emotional Processing: Writing in a journal, creating a collage, or completing a therapy worksheet, for example, is a great way to continue your emotional processing before we meet again.
Practice New Skills: As you learn new skills in your therapy sessions, you might want to practice your new behaviours and skills in your relationships or personal life. As you try new things outside of therapy, you are welcome to document your experiences in an email or a Google doc.
Accountability: It can be difficult to follow through on new knowledge, skills, and growth goals alone, so completing and submitting therapy homework to me can help you have an accountability partner.
Guidelines For Submitting Homework
There are two ways to submit your therapy homework before your next session.
1. Email
Two Short Emails: If you want to email me pictures of your art, writing, poetry, etc, you are welcome to send me two short emails between your sessions.
One Longer Email: Between sessions, you are welcome to consolidate your expressive art and writing into one longer email.
Two Pictures From Your Phone: If you are creating expressive art and would like to share it, you can email me from your phone. If you have more than two pictures to send, please insert them into a Word or Google document instead.
2. A Consolidated Document
Google or Word Doc - Your therapy homework is for your personal growth, so you might choose to do a great deal of inner growth work between sessions. If you are prolific with your therapy homework, keeping one Google or Word doc with your art, writing, dreams, and insights is best.
My Session Prep
I will email you back within 24 hours to let you know I have received your therapy homework. I will copy your homework into my therapy notes and study the homework you have done before your next session. Please submit your emails, documents, and artwork photos at least an hour before your next session.
With much care,
Shelley