Introduction

Many clients inquire about ‘therapy homework,’ and why it may be recommended so I’m providing some info about that in this blog. To be fair, not all therapists do this, and not all therapeutic modalities include homework as part of the framework. 

Here I outline the five components of why homework can be valuable in therapy: 

1. Reinforces Learning
2. Promotes Self-reflection
3. Builds Health Habits
   
4. Empowers Change
5. Tracks Progress

Reinforces Learning (Development) 👶

The first reason I value the experience of therapy homework is that it layers or “scaffolds” the work done in sessions. Reinforced learning is a hallmark of our development as humans: we watch to begin understanding, and then act or attempt some action.

If you watch an infant you will see, firsthand, the nature of this development. For instance, babies don’t just “crawl” out of the blue one day. Crawling first begins with infants seeing how others move about, then engaging in a long process of strengthening muscles and practical coordination. This takes months but you can see the progressive nature of it. That’s development. 

Therapy is a developmental, progressive process, too. Effective healers will “start where the client is at,” and help the client progress, or move forward. This takes a special balance of acceptance (of where they are currently at) and change (helping them move to the next stage). 

Promotes Self-Reflection 💭

Homework supports quiet self-reflection, self-correction and/or rebalancing of their own behaviors. Consistent application of new concepts improves insight and understanding along the way, especially when corrective patterns are being taught in sessions.

Builds Healthy Habits 💪 

“Generalizing” skills is the idea that what you learn in the therapy session needs to be practiced outside the therapy session. Then, presumably, you discuss with the therapist how that practice went, what obstacles you encoutered, what wins you can celebrate and how to continue growing.

Think of learning to play the piano 🎹: you have weekly lessons, your teacher guides, encourages, and instructs you. They give you clear instructions on what to practice in the next week. They prepare you for stressful events, like recitals. If you do your homework, when you perform at the recital – you’re ready! If you don’t do the homework/practice you won’t be ready for the recital. And if you’re practicing incorrectly, you’ll play incorrectly during the recital. 

Empowers Change 🌟

I would say the primary justification for homework is the fact that when we are in distress, our subconscious mind reverts to what is familiar. This is because the subconscious mind detects safety by what is predictable and familiar.  

Predictability & Familiarity = Perceived Safety. This is true even if it’s unhealthy for us emotionally. Because the upset brain isn’t thinking critically – it’s just responding – it will respond out of habit. Habits are predictable, they’re known, and they take very little brainpower. 

So, if what you want is to respond differently and empower change within yourself – especially when you’re activated – you must have accepted and adjusted to a new way of doing and thinking so it feels familiar and safe to the subconscious mind – otherwise, you’re cooked. 

Tracks Progress 📈

The final piece of why homework is valuable is it provides the objective data so the therapist and client collaborate together for improvements. 

If clients don’t do the homework, the data is avoidance of homework and they’ll work on that together. If however, a client does the homework and struggled with some element of it, this is very rich information for both parties to work on.

Maybe there are underlying beliefs blocking change, maybe self-doubt is showing up and sabotaging the work, or maybe the client isn’t physically safe in ways they weren’t aware of or hadn’t disclosed. Any and all of what’s disclosed in response to therapy homework is valuable. If a client did the homework and it was effective, we get to celebrate! 🎉

Homework provides the healer and the client with both the content (the actual exercise itself) and the process (the how of the experience) which usually parallels other areas in the client’s life. 

Truthfully, I enjoy this part of therapy a lot! The review of homework is one of my favorite elements of change in a client. 

Conclusion

Remember that not all therapists/modalities hold these views. Some person-centered modalities are more focused on verbal and emotional support, not on skills. 

If you’re interested in working together on this – let me know by emailing me at sh*****@***********es.com or scheduling a free consult.

I’ve also made a 6-month guided journal for therapy sessions and tracking in-between session activities. You can head here to grab yours on Amazon.

In Health & Wholeness ❤️

Shannan