The Power of Small Wins in Therapy

Aloha McGregor
Sep 12
5 min read

Have you ever felt like change just isn’t happening fast enough? Maybe you’re working with a client who says, “I’m still struggling… nothing’s different,” or maybe you’ve said those words to yourself while juggling the demands of your own life and practice. In a world that often glorifies big breakthroughs and overnight transformations, it’s easy to overlook the quiet, steady steps that truly move us forward.

But in therapy—and in life—it’s often the small wins that carry the greatest weight. Whether it’s a client opening up about a painful memory for the first time, or you taking five minutes to breathe between back-to-back sessions, these seemingly minor moments are actually signs of deep growth and resilience.

When we learn to notice, name, and celebrate small wins, we shift the story of progress from “not enough” to “more than enough.” For African American mental health professionals and the communities we serve, this shift is more than just encouraging—it’s empowering. It reminds us that healing is not a race, but a journey made up of meaningful steps worth honoring along the way.

Why Small Wins Matter in Therapy

When we think about therapy, it’s tempting to focus only on the “big picture” outcomes: reduced symptoms, life-changing breakthroughs, or complete transformation. But the truth is, most healing doesn’t arrive all at once. It comes quietly—through gradual, consistent steps that build on each other over time.

Redefining Progress

Progress isn’t always about giant leaps forward. Sometimes, it’s a client attending sessions consistently, trying out a new coping skill once, or even choosing to sit with uncomfortable emotions instead of avoiding them. Each of these small actions represents courage and forward movement.

Psychological Benefits

Boosts Motivation: Celebrating small wins reinforces the idea that change is possible, motivating clients to keep going.
Builds Confidence: Every small success is evidence that clients are capable of growth, even when the larger goal feels far away.
Creates Momentum: Small steps create a ripple effect—when a client feels encouraged, they’re more likely to keep practicing new behaviors.

A Cultural Perspective

For African American communities, strength and resilience are often emphasized as survival skills. While these qualities are powerful, they can sometimes make people feel that only big victories count. But the truth is, the smaller, quieter wins—like taking time for rest, seeking support, or learning to say “no”—are equally significant. They affirm that healing doesn’t have to look dramatic to be real, valuable, and transformative.

Small Wins for Clients

For many clients, progress feels invisible until it’s framed differently. They may believe that unless they’ve completely eliminated anxiety, repaired every relationship, or reached a life milestone, they haven’t succeeded. That’s where the role of the therapist becomes powerful—helping them see the value in each step they take.

What Small Wins Look Like in Session

Opening Up: A client who once avoided talking about feelings shares even a single sentence about sadness or anger.
Trying a Skill: Practicing deep breathing during a stressful week, even if it’s just once.
Setting Boundaries: Saying “no” to an unhealthy demand from family, work, or peers.
Showing Up: Attending therapy regularly, despite obstacles or doubts.

How Therapists Can Highlight Them

Reflect Progress Back: Gently point out growth the client might not see in themselves: “Last month, you weren’t ready to talk about this. Today, you did.”
Encourage Tracking: Suggest journaling, mood logs, or celebration lists that capture moments of growth.
Reframe Progress: Help clients see that “slow” change is still change, and that each win builds the foundation for larger transformation.

Why It Matters

When clients learn to honor small wins, they not only experience increased motivation and confidence, but they also begin to rewrite their story. Instead of “I’m not getting better,” the narrative shifts to “I am healing, one step at a time.”

Small Wins for Therapists

Therapists spend much of their time celebrating clients’ growth—but often forget to recognize their own. The truth is, therapists need small wins just as much as the people they serve. In fact, honoring these moments is a form of professional self-care.

Professional Small Wins

Managing a Difficult Session: Staying grounded during a tense conversation or helping a client reach insight after weeks of resistance.
Balancing Caseloads: Completing session notes on time or organizing a week’s schedule without burnout.
Learning & Growth: Attending a workshop, integrating a new skill, or asking for peer consultation when faced with a challenging case.

Self-Care Small Wins

Protecting Boundaries: Saying “no” to an extra commitment that would compromise rest.
Taking Breaks: Pausing between sessions to breathe, stretch, or reset.
Seeking Support: Reaching out to a trusted colleague, supervisor, or therapist for guidance.

Why It Matters for Mental Health Professionals

For many African American women in mental health, there’s a cultural expectation to be strong, dependable, and tireless. But constantly carrying the load without acknowledgment leads to exhaustion. Celebrating small wins—both in professional growth and in self-care—creates space to affirm: “I am human, I am growing, and I am enough.”

By recognizing these victories, therapists not only sustain their own well-being but also model resilience and self-compassion for their clients.

The Ripple Effect of Small Wins

The beauty of small wins is that they don’t stop with the individual—they ripple outward, creating meaningful change in therapy, in personal lives, and in communities.

In the Therapy Room

When therapists highlight progress, clients begin to trust the process more deeply. They see that their efforts matter and that healing doesn’t have to be dramatic to be real. Over time, this builds stronger therapeutic alliances, where clients feel valued and empowered.

In the Therapist’s Life

Celebrating small victories gives mental health professionals permission to embrace self-compassion. By noticing the good—finishing charting on time, setting boundaries, or simply resting—they protect themselves from burnout and reinforce their own humanity.

In the Community

In African American communities, where resilience has often been equated with enduring hardship silently, honoring small wins challenges that narrative. It shows that healing also comes through joy, self-acknowledgement, and everyday acts of care. When one person begins to celebrate small victories, it encourages others to do the same—creating a cultural shift from survival to thriving.

Practical Ways to Celebrate Small Wins

Recognizing small wins is powerful—but celebrating them is what makes the impact last. Celebration doesn’t always mean a big event; often, it’s about creating intentional moments of acknowledgment that reinforce progress.

For Clients

Gratitude Journals: Encourage clients to write down one small accomplishment each day, no matter how minor it may seem.
Weekly Reflection Questions: Simple prompts like, “What did I do this week that moved me closer to my goals?” can help clients reframe their progress.
Verbal Affirmations: Teaching clients to say affirmations such as, “Every step I take is a step forward,” builds confidence and resilience.

For Therapists

End-of-Day Check-Ins: Write down one professional win and one personal win at the close of each workday.Rituals of Recognition: Celebrate milestones with small rewards—like enjoying a favorite tea after completing session notes or treating yourself to rest without guilt.
Peer Celebrations: Share wins in supervision or with trusted colleagues to build community support.

Incorporating Culture & Faith

Spiritual Practices: Encourage celebrating wins with prayer, scripture reflection, or gratitude circles.
Community Acknowledgment: Share and honor victories within safe groups, whether family, church, or peer networks.
Cultural Traditions: Lean into affirming rituals rooted in heritage—storytelling, song, or affirmations spoken aloud with loved ones.