Therapy might be a safe space, but that doesn’t mean that it won’t occasionally hurt some feelings.

After all, part of engaging in the practice of bettering your mental health involves telling the truth to yourself and others. Repressing everything and keeping it stuck deep down inside of you is guaranteed only to make you feel worse, and may end up coming out in inappropriate ways, whether you like it or not. In other words, it is usually good to talk.

The thing is, our innermost thoughts and feelings are often not the ones that those around us are going to find the most palatable. In fact, they may have some less-than-complimentary things to say about them. For those who do one-on-one therapy, this is less of a problem; unless they so choose, nothing has to leave that room. In a group, couple, or family setting, though, there is a chance that things could get awkward. The truth can really hurt.

Still, if somebody feels the need to say something hurtful, there may well be a good reason for it. Those who get insulted would often do well to listen carefully to what they are saying, and truly think it through.