Healing Isn’t Magic — It’s Teamwork!

When it comes to recovery, many people imagine the process happening magically in a therapy session — somewhere between the soothing voice of the therapist and their expertly applied techniques. But healing isn’t magic. It’s teamwork. It’s a partnership between the therapist and the client, where both sides put in effort to make progress. 

 

It’s not just about showing up for that 60-minute appointment each week. What happens outside of that session, in the hours and days that follow, plays a far more significant role – and here’s why! 

One of the most common myths around recovery is the idea that the therapist holds all the power. You might think, "I show up, get treated, and then I feel better." But healing doesn’t happen during just that one hour. The reality is your therapist can only do so much in that short time. Recovery happens between sessions, and that’s where your active involvement makes all the difference. 

 

Your therapist is the guide, showing you the path to recovery, but you’re the one who walks it. The decisions you make between appointments — how you move, how you eat, how you rest — are the daily actions that will ultimately determine how successful your healing journey is. 

In many aspects of life, the 80/20 rule applies: 80% of the results come from 20% of the effort. When it comes to healing, this ratio is surprisingly accurate. About 80% of your recovery comes from your actions outside of therapy. The work you do in between sessions is where the real progress happens. Your therapist can provide the right guidance, treatments, and strategies, but it’s up to you to apply them consistently. 

 

Think about the one hour you spend with your therapist each week. In the grand scheme of things, it’s a tiny fraction of the week. If you’re not practicing the skills you’ve learned, following through on your exercise plan, or making mindful decisions in your daily life, you’re not giving yourself the best chance at healing. Your actions between sessions have the power to accelerate — or slow down — your recovery. 

You may be wondering, “What kind of actions are we talking about?” The truth is, it’s often the simplest things that have the biggest impact on your recovery. These actions might seem small, but over time, they add up. 

 

One of the first things to focus on is posture. The way you sit, stand, and move throughout the day directly impacts how your body feels. Sitting at a desk with poor posture, for example, can aggravate tension and strain, making your recovery much harder. On the flip side, practicing good posture like sitting up straight (we’re looking at you, office workers hunched over your keyboard!), aligning your back properly, and keeping your feet flat on the ground, will support your healing efforts. 

 

Your daily nutrition is also so important. Eating a balanced, nutrient-rich diet helps fuel your body and provides the building blocks for recovery. When your body gets the right vitamins, minerals, and proteins, it can heal more effectively. But if you’re constantly eating processed foods or skipping meals, you’re missing out on the nutrition your body needs to repair itself. 

 

And then there’s the exercise plan your therapist might have given you. These exercises aren’t optional. In fact, they’re an essential part of your recovery process. Skipping them might feel like an easy choice, especially when life gets busy, but staying consistent with these exercises can make a huge difference. Recovery is a marathon, not a sprint, and the more you stick with your plan, the faster you’ll see results. 

When you think of recovery, your first thought might be about physical healing such as reducing pain, improving mobility, or recovering from an injury. But mental wellbeing is just as important. Stress, anxiety, and negative emotions can actually hinder your body’s ability to heal. Stress raises levels of cortisol in the body, which can interfere with the recovery process. 

 

On the flip side, reducing stress and improving mental health can create the perfect environment for your body to repair. Feeling heard, supported, and encouraged by your therapist can have a profound effect on your emotional state, and by extension, on your healing. When your mind is at ease, your body is better able to focus on healing and recovery. 

We’ve all been there; you start off with good intentions (probably on a Monday), but life gets in the way. It’s easy to fall off track with an exercise plan or healthy eating habits, especially when your schedule gets packed. Staying consistent with your recovery plan is hard. In fact, studies show that only a small percentage of clients consistently follow through with exercise recommendations. It’ll come as no surprise though that the ones that do stick with it see the fastest results! 

 

Healing takes time, and it requires consistent effort. It’s easy to skip exercises or take shortcuts, but the key to success lies in sticking with it, even on days when you feel tired or discouraged. It’s a gradual process, and the more committed you are to your recovery, the more progress you’ll see.