Do I need to do homework for therapy?

Has your therapist assigned you homework to do between sessions? If not, you may be missing out. Although some homework assignments may seem like busy work, an effective, specific, and aptly assigned independent action step can do wonders for your treatment. Think of it like the difference between going to a personal trainer and doing the exercises with them once a week versus practicing your exercises daily (or even just a few times!) in between your weekly sessions with them. Which one do you think will give you the biggest return on your investment and lead to the quickest results?

This is why I will almost always assign homework between sessions. This could involve a specific writing assignment, a behavioral experiment, or filling out a Daily Mood Log when an upsetting event occurs between sessions. The goal is to practice the skills you're learning in session or to try out new behaviors in your day-to-day life. Often times, the work you do between a session will allow us to move more quickly to the next step, technique, or deeper level at the next session. Sound cool? 

Now, you may be thinking, "this is a lot to ask of someone who's struggling to even get out of bed some days!" You would be right! I think there's nothing worse than to add yet another unreachable goal to your life when you're already struggling just to get through. That's why we'll always make sure your between-session goals and action plans are 100% doable, and *easy*. The idea is to lower the bar so much so you can just stumble over it. :) Sound like a plan? 

And in case you're wondering, I don't just pull this stuff out of thin air (or the deep, dark recesses of my mind). There's scientific evidence to support the efficacy of using homework in therapy. Check out the research below if you're curious. 

If you're ready to get some empathic support or make a change in your life, reach out to schedule a free introductory video call today to see how we might work together.