Hold on to what stood out
Therapy often involves recognising a familiar pattern and considering a different way to respond. Learning starts a series of physical changes in the connections between brain cells. In an animal study, researchers found that these changes developed in stages after learning rather than appearing all at once.[1] Writing down what stood out gives the insight a clear form that you can revisit once the session is over.
Connect it with daily life
A therapy insight is more useful when it comes to mind in the situations it relates to. Bringing something back to mind after a gap can strengthen later memory. In a human study, spaced repetitions produced better recall than immediate repetition, and the memories that lasted were linked with more consistent patterns of brain activity.[2] Plastic Brains prompts you to review the notes you’ve made, giving you another opportunity to connect what you discussed in therapy with what is happening in your life.
If you want something to write on today, the after-therapy note template asks five questions on a single printable page, and explains why each one is there.