Is There A Best Time Of Day For Therapy?

There are some key things to figure out when starting therapy – such as finding a therapist you trust, choosing the best type of therapy, and figuring out how to fit therapy into your schedule.

As for the latter, the time you choose may have more impact than you think.Is it a bad idea to do this on your lunch break?Should you try to do therapy at the beginning of the week?Does an ideal treatment schedule exist?

The best time of day to receive treatment depends on a number of factors and varies from person to person.Everyone has a different schedule, lifestyle, and way of coping with the emotional aftermath of treatment.

In other words, there is no one-size-fits-all answer, and it may take some trial and error to find the right time for you.With this in mind, here are some factors to consider when determining the best time to schedule your next treatment.

Think about what you’re going to talk about

It’s hard to say with certainty what topics will come up in a meeting, but if you have an idea of what you plan to discuss, it will help to determine when to schedule your next appointment.

If you’re dealing with severe trauma that leaves you exhausted after every session, then having a session in the middle of the workday may not be the best option.However, if the only time you can find is in the middle of the day between different tasks, then be sure to schedule time to help regulate yourself and make sure it doesn’t interfere with your day.

Consider what processing looks like for you

If you attended therapy during your working lunch hour and then had to attend a meeting for the next hour, then you may have realized that you needed more time to process your appointment because your brain was still actively thinking.In this case, you’ll want to try to schedule your therapy time so that you’ll have time to calm down again afterwards.

Try to schedule some buffer time before and after treatment to make the most of it and give yourself time to deal with what you’ve just dealt with.Otherwise, getting back into work or daily life can be uncomfortable.

If your schedule allows you to take a breather from the tension, it can be helpful to develop a post-treatment ritual.This can be as simple as taking a nap, going for a walk, reading your favorite book, focusing on a cup of tea, or anything that helps you get back to your daily life.

Think of a time when you were most productive

After a long day at work, the last thing you want to do is have another hour-long conversation.Even though this is a voluntary activity, it can still be overwhelming for some people.If this sounds familiar, the best time for treatment may not be at the end of the day.

However, if you are an early riser, then meeting before work may be more beneficial.For example, maybe you’re distracted in the morning by what you have to do that day.In this case, an evening meeting might be better.For others, by evening, energy is depleted, which means meeting earlier in the day is more productive.

Think about it: if you’re going to pay for a session, you want to make sure that you can give your full attention during the session so that you can fully focus on your recovery journey.

Discuss a good schedule with your therapist

Unfortunately, it is not always possible to schedule the “best for you” treatment appointment for the day.

Since many therapists have full caseloads, it can be a challenge to meet the needs of each individual.That’s not to say that your therapist won’t work with you to find the most favorable time, but due to the nature of the work and the schedule, sometimes it’s not always feasible.

For example, in this case you may want to find a therapist who works on a weekly routine (i.e. you see them on the same day and at the same time each week).Not every therapist works this way, so you may just have to settle for the one slot they leave open, but every case is different, so it’s absolutely necessary to have a conversation to find out what rhythms work for each person.