There are some key things to figure out when starting therapy, such as finding a therapist you trust, choosing the best treatment modality, and finding a way to fit sessions into your schedule.
When it comes to the latter, the timing you choose may have more of an impact than you think. Is it a bad idea to do this during your lunch break? Should you try to have the meeting at the beginning of the week? Is there such a thing as an ideal treatment plan?
The best time of day for treatment depends on a variety of factors and will vary from person to person. Everyone has different schedules, lifestyles, and ways of coping with residual emotions after treatment.
In other words, there is no “one size fits all” answer and it may take some trial and error to find the time that works for you. With that in mind, here are some factors you’ll want to consider when determining the best time of day to schedule your next treatment.
Think about what you’re going to talk about.
It can be difficult to determine what topics will come up during the meeting, but if you have an idea of the topics you plan to discuss, it can help determine when to schedule your next appointment.
If you’re dealing with severe trauma that leaves you exhausted after each session, having therapy in the middle of your workday may not be the best option. However, if the only time you can find is in between tasks throughout the day, it’s important to make sure you schedule time to help regulate yourself to ensure it doesn’t impact your day.
Consider what processing looks like for you.
If you have therapy during a work lunch and then have to attend a meeting within the next hour, you may realize that you need more time to process the appointment because your mind is still actively racing. In these cases, you will want to try to schedule your therapy sessions at a time when you will have time to reflect on them later.
Try to schedule some buffer time before and after training to get the most out of your training and give yourself space to process what you just finished. Otherwise, jumping back into work or daily life can feel uncomfortable.
If your schedule allows for relief from heightened emotions, it may be helpful to develop a post-treatment ritual. This can be as simple as taking a nap, a brisk walk, reading your favorite book, a mindful cup of tea, or anything that helps you get back into your routine.
Think about when you’re most productive.
After a long day at work, the last thing you probably want to do is have another hour of conversation. Although this is a voluntary activity, it can still be overwhelming for some. If this sounds familiar, the best time to treat may not be at the end of the day.
However, if you are a morning person, it may be more beneficial to have a meeting before work. For example, in the morning you might be distracted by commitments for the day. In this case, an evening appointment might be better.For others, energy is depleted in the evening, meaning meetings earlier in the day would be more productive.
Think about it: If you pay for a therapy session, you want to make sure that you can attend the session with your full attention so that you can fully focus on your healing journey.
Discuss a good schedule with your therapist.
Unfortunately, it’s not always possible to schedule a treatment appointment at a time of day that “works best for you.”
Since many therapists have full caseloads, meeting everyone’s needs can be a challenge. That’s not to say your therapist won’t work with you to find the most beneficial time, but due to the nature of the job and schedules, sometimes that’s not always possible.
For example, in this case, you might want to find a therapist who works a regular weekly schedule (i.e. you see them on the same day and time every week). Not every therapist operates this way, so you may just have to succumb to one of the openings they leave open, but every case is different, so having a conversation is absolutely necessary to find out what works for everyone Rhythm.