We’ve probably all heard the phrase TMI—Too Much Information. It usually pops up when someone shares something that’s considered too much—too detailed, too personal, too triggering, or maybe just a little awkward for the setting. Sometimes it’s used playfully, but other times it carries a hint of judgment—like, whoa, maybe keep that to yourself.
Sometimes, TMI gets lumped in with terms like oversharing or trauma dumping, which refers to sharing traumatic experiences in an overwhelming way, without considering the emotional impact on the listener. This can happen in friendships, online spaces, or even in group settings, where people might not be prepared to hold that kind of weighty information.
But what about in counselling? Can you actually overshare in a place specifically designed for talking about your feelings and experiences?
Let’s unpack this.
Can You Overshare in Counselling?
Short answer: Not really.
Longer answer: There’s a big difference between sharing freely in a counselling session versus unexpectedly unloading on a friend or stranger. Counselling is designed to be a space where you can talk about the things you might not get to share elsewhere—messy, weird, emotional, deeply personal. If it’s important to you, it’s important to your therapist.
Part of a therapist’s job is to help you process information, make sense of it, and explore what parts feel most significant to you, your life, relationships, or your healing. If you want to share every detail, go for it. If you prefer to keep it vague, that’s fine too.
However, there are a couple of instances where sharing might not be as helpful—or could even be harmful.
When Sharing Might Not Serve You
While TMI isn’t a thing in counselling, there are some situations where going into extensive detail could work against you:
1. If It’s Re-Traumatizing You
Talking about trauma in counselling can be an important part of healing—but diving into every detail all at once can sometimes be overwhelming or even retraumatizing. A therapist will help guide these conversations carefully, ensuring you don’t push yourself beyond what feels safe.
2. If It’s Keeping You Stuck in the Details
Sometimes, focusing too much on the nitty-gritty details can become a way of avoiding the bigger picture. If you find yourself spending session after session recounting every small moment of an experience, it might be helpful to zoom out and ask, What’s the main takeaway here? What’s the impact this has had on me?
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t share details—it just means your therapist might gently encourage you to explore what’s underneath them.
The Bottom Line
TMI? Not a thing in counselling.
If you feel like you don’t have a space in your life where you can openly share your thoughts, emotions, and experiences, counselling is exactly where you should be doing that. It’s a place where nothing is too much.
So if you’ve been holding back out of fear that you’re oversharing, consider this your permission to say the thing. Share the weird, the raw, the detailed, the emotional. Because in counselling, if it matters to you, it matters—period.
If you’re looking for a space to share those important things – I have a few spots open for new clients. Book a free consultation today!