Understanding Life As A Verbal Processor

I didn’t learn the term verbal processor until recently, but once I learned it so many things made more sense. Verbal processors need to talk through information and emotions to make sense of them. 

One analogy I saw when reading about this concept is that of introversion and extroversion. Verbal processors tend to be extraverted about information, needing to talk about it to move forward. So, for example, I often think in imagined conversations. 

Note that you can be a Myers-Briggs introvert, that is, be introverted about your energy, and still be a verbal processor. I’m not super outgoing and can come across as shy, but the people close to me will tell you how much I like to talk when I’m thinking through something. The converse is also true -- you can be very extraverted but still be an internal information processor. 

For some people, the term verbal extends beyond just speaking -- we can write in a journal or write an email and process. So if you find yourself writing long emails or needing to journal to understand things, you may be a verbal processor even if you don’t speak to yourself out loud (though you may do this too). 

Other signs that you may be a verbal processor are tending to say every thought that pops into your head and “tiring out” people close to you. This is especially likely to happen if you are close to people who aren’t verbal processors and so find it harder to understand why you talk about ideas so much. 

If you’re a verbal processor matched with an internal processor, be aware of your different ways of making decisions and committing. Verbal processors will share ideas when we are “trying them on” -- we may not be ready to commit yet and may not know if we even believe the ideas until we’ve talked them through. Internal processors, meanwhile, are much more likely to only share when they are ready to move forward. So if you’re an internal processor matched with a verbal processor, be sure to ask before assuming they want to commit to something they shared. If you’re the verbal processor, be aware of these differences and also try to share where you are at in your processing. 

Knowing you’re a verbal processor is one way to work with your brain rather than against it. If this resonates, you can also try some of these strategies:

  • Use voice to text transcription to talk out your ideas

  • See if you can use writing to process

  • Create a support team -- e.g. a therapist, coach and other verbal processors who you can trade processing sessions with 

If you’re interested in coaching, click here to sign up for a free session. 


Sara Jeruss