“I’m sorry, I’m bouncing around.” Life isn’t a series of tidy chapters; it’s a mosaic of moments, memories, and meaning. When clients let their thoughts flow naturally, it reflects the way we process and make sense of the world. What might feel disjointed to you is often the raw material for connection, and themes almost always emerge. Your stories matter to me, and I’m paying attention to how they interweave.
Crying. If therapy isn’t a safe space to cry, then where is? Tears mean you’re connecting with something that deeply matters to you. Your emotions are welcome here, and your tears are respected.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know how to say this.” It’s okay not to have perfect words. Sometimes the struggle to articulate something reveals how tender or complex it is. Those pauses, false starts, and rewordings? They are clues about what matters most. Therapy isn’t about polished sentences—it’s about finding truth in your way, at your pace.
“I’m sorry for rambling.” Exploration takes time, and meaning often comes in the middle of what feels like meandering. Those moments of “rambling” are where the rich, unfiltered pieces of your story emerge. I love when clients "ramble," and I promise it all makes sense more than it feels like it does! I'm listening.
Talking “off-topic.” Therapy is not a linear journey. That thing you just mentioned—almost as an afterthought? It might hold a key to something deeper. Trust that what’s bubbling up has substance, even if it surprises you. I’m listening to all of it, and it all holds significance.
“I’m sorry for being so emotional.” Emotions are information. They tell us what’s dear to us, what’s tender, and where healing is needed. When you feel deeply in session, it’s a sign that we’re touching something meaningful. Nothing wrong with that.
“I’m sorry I’m taking too long to explain this.”
There’s no stopwatch in therapy. Taking time to sort through your thoughts is part of the process—it’s how clarity emerges. Whether it’s silence, a detailed story, or circling back for the third time, it all belongs here. Therapy is about creating space for your process, no matter how long it takes.
“I’m sorry if this is too small to talk about.”
No concern is “too small” for therapy. Sometimes, the seemingly minor things carry the biggest weight—tiny conflicts, passing comments, or nagging feelings often point to deeper truths. If it matters to you, it matters here. We'll work together to figure out why it matters to you and what we can learn from that "little thing."
Laughter. Clients sometimes apologize for laughing, but it doesn’t take away from the work we’re doing. In fact, it often adds to it. Humor can hold significance, offer relief, and open doors to things we might not otherwise notice.
“I don’t know where to start.” Not knowing where to begin is a beginning. It means you’ve arrived with something your mind wants to unpack, even if it feels overwhelming. Starting anywhere is better than holding it all in, and together, we’ll figure out the next step.
“I’m sorry for repeating myself.”
Sometimes your mind needs to revisit a thought, and that’s not redundant—it’s important. Returning to the same place can help uncover new perspectives, connect the dots in a fresh way, or clarify something that feels unresolved. When you circle back, I trust your mind knows what it’s doing, and I’m here to explore it with you.
In therapy, everything you bring—whether polished or raw, coherent or tangled—is a gift to your session. The process of healing is messy, human, and wholly yours. And there’s no need to apologize for that. And if you see yourself here, there's also no need to apologize for apologizing! These are very common, and you are not alone. It's a sign you're engaging and processing Big Stuff. It's complicated to be a human being and to figure out how to turn your week of human-ing into words? Yes... it IS hard to know where to begin!
Sarahbeth Spasojevich, Resident in Counseling, MEd, MA, MBA, NCC (VA-0704015620)
Connected Resilience, LLC
For scheduling: (804) 220-0388 (text/phone)
Under clinical supervision with Megan McCutcheon, LPC, PMH-C (VA-0701005482)
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