Session topics, found in the Sessions tab in the Rula app, as well as the home screen with appointment reminders and app notifications, provides a place for you to think through what you'd like to talk about before your next session. Sometimes it's hard to remember everything that happened during the week once you're in the room — and it's easy to focus only on whatever's most recent. Session topics help you prepare so you can walk in with a plan and spend your time on what matters most to you. If you choose to share these topics with your provider ahead of time, your provider can see what’s most important to you as they prepare for your session!
It takes just two steps:
Choose your topics or write your own topics
Decide whether to share them with your therapist. Note that sharing is the default setting.
Please note this is a way to organize your thoughts — it isn't a messaging channel. Your therapist can see the topics you share, but they can't reply or leave comments here. Those conversations are for your actual session.
Choosing your topics
When you open session topics, you may see a few suggested topics to get you started. These are drawn from your recent therapy or mobile app activity, like past session summaries, exercises you've completed, and Thread conversations. Each suggestion shows where it came from (for example, "Recent skills practice") so you understand why it's there.
Suggested topics are written in plain, everyday language and kept general rather than spelling out the specific details of what you've discussed. This is intentional — it helps protect your privacy and lets you share the important details with your therapist when you're together in your next session.
You're always free to add your own topics, too. There's no length limit, and anything you add goes right to the top of your list. Once you've chosen your topics, you can reorder them to reflect what feels most important — to yourself and, if you choose, to your therapist.
Sharing is your choice
After you've set your agenda, you decide whether to share it with your therapist. If you share, they'll be able to see your topics — in the order you prioritized them — before your session, so they can come prepared too. Sharing topics with your therapist is the default setting in the mobile app so that your provider can benefit from the thoughtful preparations you're done.
You're in control of this at all times. You can turn sharing off or back on whenever you like, and the app will remember your preference for next time. If you decide to stop sharing, anything you've previously shared is removed from your therapist's view.
To turn sharing off, simply click the people icon in the top right. This opens a pop-up where you can click Make all topics private.
When you can use it, and how your schedule fits in
You can start preparing with Session topics as soon as your next session is booked. Your topics stay available until that session ends, and if your appointment gets rescheduled or moved, your topics automatically carry over to the new time — no need to redo anything.
Session topics is available for adults in individual therapy sessions only. It's not available for:
- Intake (first) sessions
- Psychiatry appointments
- Couples, family, or minor appointments
- Individual therapy for minors under 18
If you're having a hard moment
Your wellbeing comes first. If something you write suggests you might be struggling or in crisis, the app will pause to show you support resources right away. To keep you safe, that particular entry won't be added to your topic list.
FAQs
Do I have to complete the pre-session prep?
No, this is an optional tool for you to feel more prepared and organized for your next therapy session.
Can my therapist comment on my shared topics?
No, this feature is not a messaging tool. It is just a way for you to organize your thoughts and - if you do share with your therapist - allows your therapist to know what you'd like to talk about ahead of time.
Can I access pre-session prep in the web version of the Rula patient portal?
This feature is only available in the Rula patient app. You will not be able to access this via the patient portal.
Can I opt out of sharing session topics from my therapist?
Yes. Sharing is turned on by default since session topics are to help you and your therapist have a more focused session, but you can turn off sharing if you prefer.
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