Most Appropriate Gifts for Your Therapist

It took me a long time to find the right therapist for me. In fact, for a while, I gave up trying because I didn't think that there was one out there who could truly understand and help me. But when I reached an all-time low, I decided to start the hunt again, and wound up with someone I would have a decade-long connection with.

A great therapist is more than a professional you pay for a service. They become your mentor, your life coach, and can create a marvelous change in your behavior and your lifestyle to improve your mental health. There is still a professional bond you can't cross, but you naturally develop a bond with the person who has helped you through the worst times in your life.

That's why, when the holiday season rolls around, you need to express gratitude toward this influential person in your life. This is a list of thoughtful yet appropriate gifts for your therapist that he/she will deeply appreciate.

Tourists come from all over the world to visit the renowned Cherry Blossom trees in Japan. Bring a piece of that beauty into your therapist's office or home by gifting a Cherry Blossom Bonsai tree.

Bonsai trees are small plants that one can grow in a pot indoors. Many people keep a bonsai with them at work to introduce a sense of peace and contemplation to the workspace. These plants are beautiful to admire, but they are also believed to aid in maintaining a positive, calm mental state.

The holiday season is the best season for those who sell candles. The scents available at this time of year are without question the most pleasing, rich scents that any candle store can offer.

Instead of buying just one measly candle for your therapist, give them a full set. This is an example of appropriate gifts for your therapist because it is thoughtful, but not extravagant. Therapists are always looking for ways to make their office more welcoming, and a set of wonderfully scented candles will help make their space that much more zen.

If your therapist is like mine, they always offer water, tea, or coffee during your session. It would be a great idea to give your therapist a custom tea set to really round out the experience.

You are obviously free to give your therapist whatever tea set design you wish, but I would go for a set that evokes a sense of earthiness. I find these simple, rustic tea sets help one feel more grounded and calm.

Because therapist love to decorate their office, they usually have some paintings or artistic prints mounted on their walls. Add to your therapist's collection by gifting them a copy of a work you know they like. If you don't know specifically what their favorite painting is, casually ask them who their favorite artists are.

Framed photography is also another one of the most appropriate gifts for your therapist, because it's an art form that aims to capture the human experience—which is what therapy is all about.

Himalayan salt rock lamps are all the rage right now, and it's not hard to see why. Their color and glow are almost hypnotic and they radiate calm, peaceful vibes. Giving your therapist this small gift is another way you can help them create a space that is comfortable, warming, and meditative.

If you know your therapist lives off of coffee, giving a gift like a flavored coffee package will be sure to warm their heart. Get a few bags of differently flavored coffee grounds—preferably ones that evoke the holiday season and spirit—and wrap them in a nice gift basket.

If you get your therapist chocolate flavored coffee, it would also be a great idea to fill the base of the gift basket with some delicious chocolates.

Before you give the gift of wine, make sure that neither one of you have ever had problems with alcohol. That would be an example of an inappropriate gift. But if everything's cool, wine is one of the best holiday presents.

Make this present one of the more appropriate gifts for your therapist by getting wine with a "thank you" label on it. That way, your gift isn't generic and you can express gratitude toward your mentor.

First of all, this Incense gift set is massive. It comes with an elegant incense holder and 79 pieces of incense that will last your therapist a very long while. This particular set also provides six different scents, so you'll be able to give the gift of variety.

Burning incense is another common way that people all over the world relax and meditate. It also smells nice, so it's a win-win.

Incense burning is a type of aromatherapy, but another kind of aromatherapy involves the use of scented oils. Eucalyptus, lavender, and vanilla oils are especially loved for their calming effects.

Aromatherapy can help clear the mind or put the mind at ease, which would be useful for your therapist after a long day of listening to people's problems. Because this gift set keeps your therapist's needs in mind, it is one of the most appropriate gifts for your therapist you can give this season.

Author Benjamin Hoff's international bestseller, The Tao of Pooh, is a great read for people of all ages. Hoff discusses the principles of Taoism, a Chinese philosophy that emphasizes the importance of simplicity, humility, and harmony for achieving a calm, pleasant state of mind.

It's not a dry lecture or thesis, though. Hoff uses the beloved characters from Winnie the Pooh to illustrate how Taoism works. As we all know, Pooh is a well of simple and kind wisdom and love. Not only is this one of the most appropriate gifts for your therapist, but one of the most meaningful.