Poop

Imagine therapy exposing your psyche like a Sinatra tune—smooth, emotive, and occasionally accompanied by the unspeakable trumpet of a whoopee cushion. That's the vibe Sarah Jones strikes in her unexpectedly uproarious article “Why You Should Talk About Poop in Therapy.” At first glance, it’s the bathroom small talk nobody asked for, but stick around—this conversation is more enlightening than it smells.

Jones recounts the universal cringe: “Many of my clients laugh uncomfortably when I ask them about their ‘poop routine’… ‘What does poop have to do with my emotions or with therapy?’” Picture someone discovering their therapist as a digestive detective—it’s like Indiana Jones with a plunger.

But sink or flush, Jones dives into science over snicker: the gut-brain axis, starring the Enteric Nervous System—a neural brunch of over “100 million nerve cells” lining the intestines, chatting nonstop with your brain. Johns Hopkins even flips the script, suggesting GI irritation might actually cause anxiety and depression—not just follow them. Imagine your colon as the puppet master pulling emotional strings—cello included.

Let’s slap you with stats served on a platter no one asked for: 30–40% of folks wrestle with functional bowel issues, and IBS ranks second only to the common cold in forcing sick days—eviction notices from the office or classroom courtesy of your own colon. That’s some serious poop power.

Jones doesn’t just drop the bomb—she ushers in the cavalry: GI psychology. It's a therapy cocktail that blends biology, mood, stress, and salad with your shrink, GP, and nutritionist. Through “psychoeducation, teaching new skills, and working collaboratively,” clients can sometimes boot their gut angst out of the building entirely. Who knew therapy could literally clear your pipes?

And here’s the kicker: your toilet throne isn’t just ironic furniture. Talking about your bowel movements can be the difference between guessing what’s up and actually owning it. Jones is on a mission—her blog insists that if your gut’s throwing tantrums, maybe it’s time to explore that in therapy. It’s like holding weekly parliament with your posterior.

So next time you sit down to dialogue with your therapist, consider that your inner plumbing might have the juiciest scoop. Your colon could be auditioning for a supporting role in your emotional drama—so why wouldn't you talk about it? As Jones says, the link is “inextricably linked". That's not just a metaphor—it’s physiology with punchlines.

In short, chatting about poo in therapy isn’t gross—it’s gritty, real, and often the key to unlocking emotional mysteries. Let’s elevate the conversation—literally. And maybe next session you’ll sigh and say, “Doc, let’s talk about the performance in the porcelain opera.”

Read the full article here: https://thesibleygroupdc.com/why-you-should-talk-about-poop-in-therapy/