The Significance of Post-Session Waiting Rooms in Psychotherapy

After your session, have you stayed in the waiting room for too long? How would therapists feel about that? Is there an unspoken rule that clients should not sit in the waiting room after their session ends, or does it not really matter and they are free to leave the waiting area when they wish?

Is a Waiting Room Rule Necessarily in Place?

This is a great question! It actually makes me think I should add something to my consent form for first-session and first-time clients. Unless there is not enough space, which can vary from center to center, I don’t believe there should be a strict waiting room rule. Psychotherapy, like physiotherapy, can be highly personalized, making it essential for clients to have the space and time they need to process and reflect. Sitting in the waiting area can actually be very useful in helping clients gather their thoughts and emotions, reflecting on the session they just had, and further engaging in the therapeutic process.

After a particularly intense session, it can be a positive sign that a client feels they need to take a moment, just like one might feel sore after a gym session. This downtime in the waiting area can also serve as a metaphor for the ‘hard work’ done during the therapy session, helping to solidify the progress made in previous sessions. Discussing the appropriateness of staying after the session can prevent any confusion or awkwardness for the client, and it can also be a valuable opportunity for the therapist to address any concerns or provide further guidance.

Client-Driven Decisions and Practical Solutions

Currently, I do not encounter this issue since I conduct remote-only therapy. However, many clients have shared with me that they schedule their appointments at specific times because they feel drained after the session, preferring to avoid daytime appointments to recover before returning to work.

If a client does need to leave the waiting area due to a lack of seats for everyone waiting before and after sessions, it is advisable for them to discuss alternative options with their therapist. This might include sitting in the car for an extra 10-15 minutes or going for a short walk before continuing their commute. Having an “after-session” room equipped with facilities like comfortable seating and maybe even a daybed could significantly improve the client experience. Such a space would provide a conducive environment for clients to process and reflect on their therapy sessions, fostering a deeper therapeutic relationship and improving overall outcomes.

Personal Reflections on Staying in the Waiting Room

I began sporadically staying in the waiting room after my sessions a few weeks ago, feeling the need to do so during particularly intense sessions. On one occasion, as I was savored the nearness and wished I had mentioned it to my therapist, M, he had closed the door, making me feel sheepish. However, he later explained that he had started a remote session. This was the moment I decided to inform him about my plans.

In the following session, I neglected to mention it, and I didn’t believe I needed to stay anymore. However, in the most recent session, I brought up the idea of spending some time in the waiting room, and he said it was fine. While I usually stay in the waiting room for about twenty minutes, around that time I start to feel a mix of readiness to go and awkwardness for still being there. Once I realized that I could take a short nap immediately after the session, one of the perks of remote sessions, I realized that physical spaces like waiting rooms could be much more supportive for clients.

Given the evolving nature of therapy and the need for environments that cater to the diverse needs of clients, it is vital to consider post-session waiting rooms as an essential component of the therapeutic experience. By addressing the nuances of these spaces, we can enhance the therapeutic relationship and ensure that both clients and therapists are fully engaged in the healing process.