Ventilation, aka venting, can absolutely be a valid form of processing stuff in session.
If I am observing a “vent session” taking place in my therapy room, I listen first then gently ask my clients if they want to use this “gossip” as “gristle for the mill” and go deeper into analyzing and processing or if they just need to blow off steam.
If you paid someone to listen to you talk in a way that you wouldn’t be able to with anyone else, that’s not money wasted, IMO.
Therapy is for getting things out that you otherwise wouldn't. Sometimes that's just some crazy drama 🪿
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