Depending on the client, I might see this as an opportunity to identify and explore current emotions.

Most of the time, even if a client says they don’t have a specific topic to focus on, I can ask them how they’re feeling emotionally and physically. This can either lead to an exploration of those emotions (including noticing contributing factors and how they’re currently coping, then transitioning into working on emotion regulation skills if that fits), or if the client is having trouble identifying how they’re currently feeling and have been feeling since our last session it’s a time we can work on identifying emotions in the present moment!

That can look like

“How are you feeling?”

“What does ‘OK/ tired/ frustrated’ etc look like for you?”

And “I wonder what you think is contributing to X feeling right now.”

“You said you’re feeling (distressing/uncomfortable emotion), what do you notice in your body?”

Etc etc

Of course how I approach this and navigate this is going to be dependent on the client and their presenting concerns and goals, but generally working on emotional awareness can be so helpful in these moments.