Let’s be honest. Crying in front of another person can feel deeply uncomfortable. Add a quiet therapy room, a box of tissues, and all the things you’ve been holding in, and suddenly you’re crying while someone calmly nods and listens. If you’ve cried in therapy or are worried you might, you’re definitely not alone. It’s actually one of the most common things that happens in sessions, even if it feels awkward in the moment.
Crying in therapy does not mean you are too emotional or falling apart. Most of the time, it means something real is finally coming up.
Why Crying Happens in Therapy
Crying is your body’s way of releasing built-up emotion. When your nervous system has been holding onto stress, sadness, anger, or even relief, tears can be the release valve.
Out in the world, most of us are constantly holding it together. At work. With friends. In relationships. Therapy is often the one place where you are allowed to stop performing and actually feel what is there. That is why so many people say, “I never cry, but I always cry in therapy.” It is not because therapy makes you weak. It is because it feels safe enough to be honest.
What Your Tears Might Be Saying
Sometimes the tears show up before the words do. You might start crying while telling a story you thought you were totally fine talking about. Or the moment you finally say something out loud that you have been carrying quietly for years, your body reacts before your brain catches up.
Crying is not only about sadness. People cry when they feel overwhelmed, angry, relieved, grateful, ashamed, or deeply seen. In therapy, tears often mean, “This matters more than I realized,” or “That was heavier than I thought.” Sometimes they just mean, “That was a lot.”
What Your Therapist Is Actually Thinking
This part is important. Your therapist is not judging you for crying. They are not uncomfortable. They are not thinking you are weak or dramatic.
Therapists are trained to hold space for emotion. Tears usually signal trust and vulnerability. For most therapists, crying means the work is going somewhere meaningful. You also do not need to apologize or explain yourself. Saying “I didn’t expect that” or “This feels embarrassing” is completely okay, but it is not required. There is no wrong way to cry in therapy.
If You Find Yourself Holding Back Tears
Some people feel like they should not cry in therapy. Maybe you were taught to stay strong, stay quiet, or not show emotion. That makes sense. Crying can feel risky, especially if you learned early on that emotions were not safe.
If you notice yourself fighting back tears, that is not a failure. It can actually be a really useful moment to get curious about what feels hard to let out. Crying is not the only way to process emotions, but it is a powerful one when it happens naturally.
Crying Is Not a Step Back
If you cry in therapy, it does not mean you are regressing or doing something wrong. Most of the time, it means you are allowing yourself to feel instead of pushing everything down.
So if you find yourself reaching for a tissue mid-session, try to be gentle with yourself. Crying is not a sign of weakness. It is often a sign of movement. And in therapy, movement is a really good thing.
Hi, I’m Corrine, a therapist for when life feels like too much and you can’t figure out why. I work with young adults who are anxious, overwhelmed, or stuck in that “I should be fine, but I’m not” zone. My goal? To help you feel grounded, confident, and more like yourself again.
In therapy with me, there’s no pressure to have it all together. You can show up tired, unsure, or mid–existential crisis; I’ll meet you where you are. We’ll talk things through, laugh when we can, and untangle what’s been weighing you down. I believe growth doesn’t have to be scary; sometimes it’s just about taking one honest step at a time.
If you’re ready to stop overthinking and start actually feeling better, I’d love to help you get there.
