Facts, It’s More Than a New Phrase

By: Margie Frisco, MA, LPC-Associate Supervised by Melissa Barton, LPC-S Facts. It’s the new word all the kids are saying. As an adult, I understand the term the way the kids say it to say I agree. But facts can be so helpful for all people of all ages. We use facts in therapy to help better analyze our thoughts. Sometimes our emotions can get so overwhelming. It can feel like our emotions take over rational thought. What I mean by that is that emotions can impact our thoughts and blur the lines of truth.

Facts Still Allow Feelings

Factual-based thinking can be constructive in understanding your feelings. Now, before you read further, it is essential to say you are allowed to feel your feelings. I take the view that emotions are like opinions. They typically are not wrong. They just are. So, when you are experiencing big feelings, it is ok. To make your feelings smaller, you can use healthy coping skills. What is a coping skill, you might ask? A healthy coping skill is something that is healthy for you, healthy for others and makes you feel better. You can discover which ones feel the best for you.

Facts to Help Process Thoughts

After your feelings are smaller or you feel calm, you can begin to process your thoughts. Using facts to analyze our thoughts is genuinely looking at the thought to see what is factual. For instance, what parts are facts versus not? Many times we have thoughts that come into our heads. For example, if you walk into a room and people turn to look at you. People often feel like, “oh my gosh, they are staring.” It can lead to other thoughts like, “I must have done something.” Or we can think they are thinking about us. But when we look at the thought with facts, we can see something totally different. Do we really know what they are thinking? No. Furthermore, what are other options for them looking at us? It could be they heard a noise and checked it out. Maybe they were waiting for someone and checking to see who it was. The options are many! Furthermore, finding the truth in our thoughts can help us see which thoughts are helpful versus hurtful. If we find ourselves repeatedly using painful thoughts, we can discover the route to some of our pain. Also, we can find ways to correct hurtful behaviors to improve our overall well-being.

Summarizing Facts

Factual-based thinking helps review your thoughts. It can be beneficial in discerning whether a thought is helpful or hurtful. And it can aid in discovering how our thoughts can impact our behaviors. This can be one of those times where it can be easier said than done. Keep in mind change is possible. Practicing reviewing your thoughts at the end of the day can be very helpful. Time and compassion can also help make changes and implement factual-based thinking in your daily life.

Begin Counseling to Process Your Thoughts at Our Center in Katy, TX!

If you would like more help with processing with facts, one of the therapists at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch can help! To begin counseling in Katy, Texas, follow these three steps:

1. Contact our office to set up an appointment or get more information on processing your thoughts. 
2. Meet with one of our caring therapists
3. Find other ways to process with facts with therapy today!

Other Therapy Services We Offer:

Here at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch, we offer counseling services for people of all ages in areas including counseling for kids, counseling for young adults, teen counseling, couples counseling, eating disorder treatment, men's issues, women's issues, anxiety treatment, depression therapy, trauma counseling, family therapy, and group counseling. We provide helpful information on a variety of mental health topics. Our therapists strive to post blogs regularly. To learn more about our therapists and counseling services, please reach out to the Counseling Center today!