Practicing Gratefulness: How a ‘Thank You’ can transform lives

Blog | Psychotherapy

We are often busy with our work so much so that we tend to take things for granted that we should be grateful for. We sometimes overlook the little things our loved ones do for us, from making us breakfast in the morning to making our beds so that we get a good night's sleep.

Amidst the chaos of maintaining a work-life balance, we often forget to pause and appreciate the blessings that surround us.

'Act of Gratefulness' is not merely about acknowledging the good things that happen to us, but appreciating these things actively by simply saying a 'thank you'.

Here is a small exercise that can be practiced to improve your own well-being and mental health.

Please get a pen and a page, and follow the steps written below.

It will hardly take 5 minutes.

Here we go,

Step 1: Find a quiet place and settle down. Now, take a few deep breaths and relax.

Step 2: Reflect on your day. Recall moments, experiences, or people for which you feel grateful. It could be as simple as a warm hug from a loved one.

Step 3: Write down three to five things you're grateful for. Be specific and descriptive.

Don't just write 'my friend', instead write, 'I am thankful for the lovely song sung by my friend in the evening'... It made me feel so special..... and.....I was overwhelmed with the joy and....

Step 4: As you write, allow yourself to feel the gratitude in your heart.

Step 5: Now, if you wish you can act out this feeling by simply sending a thank you message or talking to the person and appreciating the efforts made.

Step 6: Close your eyes for a minute and allow yourself to feel whatever is on your mind. Open your eyes gently and we are back to normal...

I hope this exercise fills your heart with warmth and helps you feel better.

If it does, try repeating this exercise and help yourself enhance your well-being.

'Thank you' for reading this!

Author: Dolly

10 March 2024

What are the benefits of a free consultation?

Getting to know the psychologist: You can talk to the psychologist to see if they are a good fit for you in terms of their work style, personality, and specialization.

Defining the problem: You can describe your problem in detail and get qualified advice from the psychologist, which will help you better understand the nature of your problem.

Developing a plan of action: You can get recommendations on how to solve your problem, which methods and approaches may be the most effective.

Feeling supported: You can get emotional support and feel that you are not alone, because the psychologist will listen to you attentively.

Who is a free consultation suitable for?

Those looking for a psychologist: A free consultation can help you make the right choice, as you can talk to several psychologists before making a final decision.

Those who are unsure whether they need psychotherapy: A free consultation can help you understand whether psychotherapy can help you solve your problem and whether it is right for you.

Those who have a limited budget: A free consultation is an opportunity to get qualified help from a psychologist for free, to see if you need further psychotherapy.

Those who may be nervous or hesitant to start psychotherapy: A free consultation gives you the opportunity to overcome your fear of the first meeting with a psychologist, get answers to your questions, and feel more confident.

Important:

A free consultation is not a substitute for psychotherapy.

In a free consultation, the psychologist cannot give you a final diagnosis or prescribe treatment.

The purpose of a free consultation is to help you determine if a psychologist and psychotherapy are right for you, and to give you the first steps to solving your problem.

Potential benefits of a free initial consultation

During this first session: potential clients have the chance to learn more about you and your approach before agreeing to work together.

Offering a free consultation will help you build trust with the client. It shows them that you want to give them a chance to make sure you are the right person to help them before they move forward. Additionally, you should also be confident that you can support your clients and that the client has problems that you can help them cope with. Also, you can avoid any ethical difficult situations about charging a client for a session in which you choose not to proceed based on fit.

We've found that people are more likely to proceed with therapy after a free consultation, as it lowers the barrier to starting the process. Many people starting therapy are apprehensive about the unknown, even if they've had sessions before. Our culture associates a "risk-free" mindset with free offers, helping people feel more comfortable during the initial conversation with a specialist.

It's important to note that the initial consultation differs from a typical therapy session:

It can last from 15 to 30 minutes, with the specialist determining the appropriate length for this introductory meeting.

The free initial consultation is not intended to be a full therapy session. It is an opportunity for the client to learn more about the specialist and their approach to therapy, and to decide whether they want to work together.

The specialist should set clear boundaries for the free initial consultation, including the length of the session and the topics that can be discussed.

The specialist should be prepared to answer questions from the client about their experience, training, and qualifications.

The specialist should not give specific advice or recommendations during the free initial consultation. This should be done during a paid session.