The Surprising Science of Yawning in Therapy: What That Midway Stretch Really Means

Have you ever caught yourself yawning during our therapy session and felt a little embarrassed? As an AEDP® therapist in NYC, I see this happen all the time—and guess what? It's actually fascinating from a neurobiological perspective!

That Yawn Doesn't Mean What You Think It Means

Picture this: we're deep into an anxiety therapy session here in my NYC practice. You're sharing something vulnerable, perhaps about a challenging relationship or a stressful work situation. Then suddenly—it happens. Your jaw stretches wide, your eyes water slightly, and you feel that unmistakable sensation of a yawn coming on.

"Oh no," you think, "my therapist is going to think I'm bored or not taking this seriously!"

But as your psychologist in NYC, I'm here to tell you something that might surprise you: that yawn might actually be a good sign about our therapeutic work together.

The Science Behind the Stretch

Recent neuroscience research reveals that yawning is so much more than just a sign of tiredness. In fact, it's a complex neurobiological process that serves several important functions:

1. The Brain's Reset Button

When you yawn during anxiety therapy in my NYC office, your brain might actually be hitting its reset button. Yawning helps regulate arousal levels—sometimes boosting alertness when you're understimulated, but other times helping you downshift from an anxious, sympathetic nervous system state to a calmer, more relaxed parasympathetic state.

Think of it as your brain's way of saying, "Let's take a moment to recalibrate."

2. Cooling Your Brain (Literally!)

Did you know your brain actually heats up when you're processing emotional material? It's true! Anxiety therapy often involves working through challenging feelings and memories, which requires significant brain energy and generates heat.

Yawning brings cool air into your body and increases blood flow, which helps regulate your brain temperature. So when you yawn during our AEDP® therapy sessions in NYC, your body might just be making sure your brain stays at its optimal temperature while processing those important emotions.

3. A Sign of Emotional Transition

As an AEDP® therapist in NYC, I'm especially interested in the transitions between emotional states. Here's something fascinating: yawning often occurs precisely during these transitions.

When you shift from anxiety to calm, or from defensive protection to vulnerable connection, your body often marks this shift with a yawn. It's like a physiological punctuation mark that says, "We're changing states now."

4. The Social Connection

Yawning is famously contagious, but did you know it's most contagious between people who share close emotional bonds? As your psychologist in NYC, I might even find myself yawning in response to yours—not because I'm bored, but because we're in a state of attunement and connection.

This is actually a good sign about our therapeutic relationship! Research shows we're more likely to "catch" yawns from people we feel close to or empathize with.

What Your Yawn Tells Me as Your NYC Therapist

When you yawn during our anxiety therapy sessions, I don't see someone who's disinterested. Instead, I see evidence of:

Your nervous system shifting and recalibrating
Your brain actively processing emotional material
A possible transition between different emotional states
Our therapeutic connection in action

In my years as an AEDP® therapist in NYC, I've come to view yawning as valuable information about what's happening in your internal experience—information that can actually help guide our work together.

Common Questions About Yawning in Therapy

"If I yawn during our session, does it mean I'm bored?"

Not at all! While yawning can happen when we're understimulated, in therapy it often signals state transitions, emotional processing, or your body helping your brain work efficiently with challenging material.

"What if my therapist yawns during our session?"

As your psychologist in NYC, if I yawn during our session, it's likely not about boredom. Therapists often yawn in resonance with clients as part of our attunement. It can actually be a sign that I'm deeply engaged with your emotional experience.

"Should I try to suppress my yawns in therapy?"

Please don't! Those yawns are valuable data about your internal process. In AEDP® therapy, we're interested in all of your body's responses, as they give us clues about your emotional experience and nervous system state.

Embracing the Yawn in Anxiety Therapy

So next time you feel that familiar stretching sensation during our NYC therapy session, maybe we can both pause and get curious about it. What state were you in just before? What might be shifting or changing in your emotional experience?

Far from being embarrassing or rude, your yawn might be telling us something important about your therapeutic process. And as your warm, attuned psychologist in NYC, I'm all ears (and eyes, even for yawns!).

Warmly,

Dr. Yuko

Dr. Yuko is a licensed psychologist and AEDP® therapist in NYC specializing in anxiety therapy, trauma, and emotional wellbeing. Her practice combines cutting-edge neuroscience with warm, attuned therapeutic presence. To learn more about working with Dr. Yuko, visit her website or call to schedule a consultation.