You've built up a sense of trust with your counsellor. Each session, you open up and share your thoughts and feelings. However, between sessions, your contact is generally limited to practical things like timings and cancellations. It can feel as if you're being kept at arm's length.

Let's take a look at why you might want to reach out to your counsellor, and what you can do if you're finding things difficult:

1. 'My mind keeps returning to things we've discussed, and I'm struggling to wait until our next session'

Often in counselling we're sharing feelings that we haven't voiced before. This can be a huge relief. But it can also feel as if we've opened a jar and the contents are continually swirling around us.

What can you do?

• Acknowledge and accept that sometimes thoughts and feelings might emerge between sessions. Be curious. Notice what triggers this, and how it makes you feel.
• Notice how you respond to the 'boundary' between you and your counsellor. Do you feel compliant, and pleased to have structure in place? Or do you feel irritated and rebellious? What does this tell you about how you interact with others?
• Establish coping strategies. There might be an activity that helps you to process your thoughts, such as journaling or talking to someone. Or it might be around finding ways to calm your mind or, such as breathing exercises or mindfulness.