Mallory Grimste, LCSW

09/02/2025

When you cry in therapy... do you want your therapist to talk you through it or just sit quietly with you?

09/02/2025

🔥 SAVE THIS if you want to know what you can do if you start crying in therapy (and remember… you get to decide what feels best):

Here are just a few options you can do:
✨ Ask for a pause. Sometimes you just need a moment to breathe.

✨ Keep talking through the tears. Words & tears can go together.

✨ Ask for tissues, or grab them on your own. Therapists have plenty!

✨ Let the silence do the work. Crying *is* processing the emotional release.

✨ Tell your therapist what helps (or what doesn’t). We want to know how to best support you.

And if you have no clue what works best for you, we’re here to help you figure it out together.

Even if you cry in therapy, YOU are still in charge!

Crying is never a weakness. It’s just one way your body releases what it’s been holding onto.

08/25/2025

Crying in therapy doesn’t mean you’ve “lost it” or that you’re out of control.

More often, it means you’re finally in a space where you feel safe enough to let your guard down.

Even in those moments when your emotions feel big…
✨ You still get to decide what you share.
✨ You still get to set the pace.
✨ You still get to say, “I need a break” or “Let’s keep going.”

Your therapist can offer options and support, but you choose what feels right.

And that choice?
That’s where real safety is built.

Crying isn’t weakness—it’s your body’s way of processing and releasing. And you’re still the one in the driver’s seat.

08/19/2025

What’s the most comforting thing a therapist has done for you while you were crying?

08/18/2025

You can ugly cry and laugh-snort in the same therapy session.
There’s no script for how therapy “should” look or feel.

Sometimes we sit in silence…
so you can gather your thoughts and actually feel your feelings.

Sometimes we hand you a tissue (or wait until you ask)…
so you can express yourself the way that feels most comfortable.

Sometimes we help you slow your breathing or check in with your body…
so you can practice calming your system in a safe space.

Therapy isn’t about making you cry—or stopping you from crying.
It’s about doing what helps you feel safe in that exact moment.

💛 I shared more about what actually happens when you cry in therapy (and why it’s not what most people think) here:
https://www.mallorygrimste.com/counseling-blog/what-happens-when-you-cry-in-therapy

✨ When you’re upset, what actually makes you feel most supported?
Let’s talk about it 👇

08/18/2025

A colleague just shared this in another group. As a therapist who specializes in self harm recovery for teens, I’m glad to share there is help for these concerns. I’ll share some of my FREE videos about how to help in the comments.

"Our findings demonstrate a significant association between diagnosed COVID-19 and self-harming behaviours in children and adolescents. This association is further amplified by disease severity. These results are consistent with existing immunological research that links COVID-19-induced inflammation to negative psychological and mental health outcomes. These findings emphasize the critical need for robust and integrated mental health support for children and adolescents affected by COVID-19."

Full study: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/07853890.2025.2516698e nt

08/17/2025

💛 Coming 09/01/2025 💛

You already know a new school year is more than just new classes or routines… it’s a fresh start.

And this year, I’m starting a fresh chapter, too.

After 11 amazing years in Woodbridge....
my counseling office is moving to Branford, CT!

The new space is bright, welcoming, and filled with natural sunlight—plus it’s easier to get to for clients along the shoreline, while still being a reasonable drive from the Woodbridge area.

Because just like you, I know the space we’re in matters.

Your therapy space can shift how you feel, how you show up, and even how much you're able to open up and grow.

If you’ve been thinking about starting counseling, this could be the year you…
✅ Walk into any room feeling grounded and confident, unapologetically yourself.
✅ Speak up for yourself and set boundaries that stick, without coming off as bratty (and no, not the Charli XCX kind 😉)
✅ Have a plan that actually works for when things get overwhelming, so you don’t spend your evenings spiraling, crashing out, or shutting down.

📅 Counseling spots are now open for in-person in Branford or virtual anywhere in CT & NY.

🔗 Link in bio to apply and make this year feel different.

08/14/2025

08/13/2025

You don’t have to be "good" at therapy.

You just have to show up.

08/12/2025

😭 PSA: Crying in therapy isn’t a “you’re failing” moment.
Not crying isn’t a “you’re doing it wrong” moment either.

Both can mean you’re safe.
Both can mean you’re healing.

If you’ve ever left therapy wondering, “Was that okay?”
💛 The answer is yes. Always yes.

08/01/2025

Ever worry that crying in therapy means something’s gone wrong?
👉 You’re not the only one.

Some people hold it all in until the floodgates open.
Others avoid therapy because they don’t cry and wonder if that means something’s broken.
And way too many have been taught that crying is a weakness—even while trying to get better at being emotionally open.

But here’s the truth:
Crying in therapy isn’t a failure. It’s not a test.
Sometimes, it just means your body finally feels safe enough to let go.

💛 In my latest blog post, I’m breaking down what therapists actually do when you cry—and why it’s probably not what you expect.

👉 Read it here: https://www.mallorygrimste.com/counseling-blog/what-happens-when-you-cry-in-therapy