“Why Talking Really Does Help”
My therapy room located at Pure Alton, Hampshire
Why Talking Really Does Help: The Science Behind Counselling
You've probably heard the phrase "a problem shared is a problem halved," but have you ever wondered why talking about our troubles actually makes us feel better?
As a counsellor, I'm often asked: "Will just talking really help?" The answer is a resounding yes—and there's solid science behind it.
Putting Feelings Into Words
When we experience difficult emotions, they can feel overwhelming and chaotic. Research shows that the simple act of putting feelings into words—a process psychologists call "affect labelling"—actually reduces the intensity of those emotions. It's like turning down the volume on your emotional distress.
When you talk about what you're feeling in counselling, you're not just venting. You're helping your brain process and make sense of those feelings, which naturally makes them more manageable.
Getting It Out of Your Head
Have you ever noticed how thoughts can go round and round in your mind, getting bigger and more frightening with each cycle? Talking breaks that cycle. When you speak your worries aloud, you externalize them—they're no longer trapped inside your head, growing in the darkness.
In counselling, this process happens in a safe, non-judgmental space. There's no need to protect anyone else's feelings, no fear of burdening a friend, and no worry about being judged. You can say exactly what you're thinking and feeling.
Someone Really Listening
In our busy lives, how often does someone truly listen to you? Not waiting for their turn to speak, not checking their phone, not thinking about what they're going to cook for dinner—just genuinely, fully listening?
That quality of attention is rare and incredibly healing. Being truly heard helps you feel validated, understood, and less alone with your struggles.
Making Connections
As we talk in counselling, patterns often emerge. You might start to notice connections between your current feelings and past experiences, or recognise unhelpful thought patterns you've been stuck in. These insights don't come from me telling you what's wrong—they come from you exploring your own thoughts and feelings with supportive guidance.
It's More Than Just Talking
Of course, counselling is more than just talking. It's talking with purpose, in a structured therapeutic relationship, with someone trained to help you navigate difficult emotions and experiences. But at its heart, yes—talking really does help.
If you've been wondering whether counselling might help you, why not start with a conversation? I offer a free 20-minute call where we can simply talk about what you're going through and whether counselling might be right for you.
Sometimes the hardest step is the first one—reaching out. But that conversation could be the beginning of real change.