Exploring Presenting Issues and Feelings
The client discusses their current challenges, symptoms, and emotional states, while the therapist uses active listening and open-ended questions to facilitate deeper exploration.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
overwhelmed
Feeling overwhelmed means you feel unable to handle something because it is too much or too difficult. Use it when describing stress from work or life, like 'I feel overwhelmed by my tasks.'
anxiety
Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome. It's common in therapy talks; say 'I have anxiety about my future' to express ongoing worry.
dread
Dread is a strong feeling of fear or anticipation of something unpleasant. Use it for deep worries, like 'I feel dread before meetings' to show intense emotional discomfort.
pinpoint
To pinpoint means to identify or locate something exactly. In conversations, say 'It's hard to pinpoint the problem' when you can't specify a cause clearly.
racing thoughts
Racing thoughts refer to thoughts that move very quickly through your mind, making it hard to focus. Useful in mental health discussions: 'My racing thoughts keep me awake at night.'
concentrate
To concentrate means to focus your attention or mental effort on something. Say 'I can't concentrate on my work' when distractions prevent focus.
symptoms
Symptoms are signs of a physical or mental condition, like pain or worry. In therapy, use 'What are your symptoms?' to ask about issues affecting health.
frustration
Frustration is the feeling of being upset or annoyed because you can't do or achieve something. Express it as 'I feel frustration when things don't go as planned.'
inadequacy
Inadequacy is the feeling of not being good enough or sufficient. Say 'I have a sense of inadequacy' when feeling unworthy in personal or work situations.
hollow
Hollow means empty or without real value or emotion. Use it for achievements that feel meaningless: 'My success feels hollow inside.'
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
What brings you here today?
This is an open-ended question used by therapists to start a session. It's useful for inviting someone to share their reasons politely. Grammar: Simple present tense for general inquiry; practice it in professional or personal conversations to encourage detailed responses.
I've been feeling incredibly overwhelmed lately.
This sentence expresses ongoing strong emotions. 'I've been feeling' uses present perfect continuous for recent, continuing states. Useful when describing personal struggles; say it to friends or in therapy to explain current feelings.
It's hard to pinpoint exactly what it is.
This shows difficulty in identifying a problem precisely. 'It is' contracts to 'It's' for natural speech. Helpful for admitting uncertainty in discussions; use it when explaining vague issues to build rapport.
My mind just races, or I get this tightness in my chest.
Describes mental and physical symptoms using simple present for habits. The 'or' connects alternatives. Practical for health talks; use to vividly share anxiety symptoms, helping others understand your experience.
Sleep feels like a luxury I can't afford.
A metaphor comparing sleep to something expensive and unavailable. 'Feels like' expresses subjective opinion. Useful idiomatically to convey exhaustion; employ it when talking about insomnia or high stress.
How long have you been experiencing these symptoms?
This question seeks duration using present perfect continuous 'have been experiencing.' Key for therapy or medical contexts; ask it to gather history, showing active listening and empathy.
It's been a few months now, steadily getting worse.
States time and progression with present perfect 'It's been' and present continuous 'getting worse.' Useful for updating on problems; use in conversations to explain how issues develop over time.
It sounds like you're carrying a heavy burden right now.
Empathetic response using 'It sounds like' to paraphrase and validate feelings. Metaphor 'heavy burden' for stress. Practice in supportive talks; it shows understanding without judgment.
Even when I accomplish something, it feels hollow.
Contrasts achievement with emotion using 'even when' for concession. 'Feels hollow' describes emptiness. Valuable for expressing dissatisfaction; use it to discuss emotional challenges in success.
Thank you for sharing this with me.
A polite expression of gratitude in therapy. Simple present for thanks. Essential for building trust; say it after someone opens up to encourage more sharing in conversations.