Eek! I’m going to therapy for the first time!
First of all, congratulations. You’ve made a decision to make yourself a priority, and that deserves a round of applause. I think as moms, we try so hard to teach our children to grow up to be healthy and happy individuals, but so often, we forget to model this in our own lives. How are we going to teach our kids how to take care of themselves if we aren’t also showing them how we take care of ourselves? You’ve taken the first step in prioritizing yourself, and that is really something.
So what can you expect from your first session of therapy?
Your First Session
Think of your first appointment as an initial consultation — an opportunity to meet and get to know your new therapist. If you’re seeing me, I will probably ask what brings you to therapy and what you hope to achieve from it. Tell your therapist what bothers you, even if you think your concerns aren’t “big enough.” People come to therapy for many different reasons, all equally valid and deserving of care and attention.
I will ask questions about you, including your unique background and history, to get a better understanding of who you are. I will go over my professional role, my style of therapy, and the outcomes you can expect from working with me. I will also go over confidentiality and office policies.
It’s Okay to Speak Up!
The first session is a great time to ask any questions you may have. It can take a few sessions with your therapist to determine if you’ve found a good match. I like to encourage anyone working with a new therapist to commit to giving the clinician three sessions to really see if you “jive.” No one can really know how therapy will be able to help them after one session, and it may take a couple of sessions to feel you can truly “open up.” Give it a few tries to see how you feel. I will check-in with you to see how you are feeling about sessions.
How Does Therapy Work?
Many people associate therapy with talking about your innermost feelings. Sure, you’ll talk about your feelings. It may surprise you to know that you will also learn new ways of thinking, strategies to address problem areas, and how to consider different perspectives.
Part of making therapy helpful includes the chance to challenge yourself in a safe environment with someone you can trust and who can maintain a neutral, objective viewpoint. Therapy can be a great place to talk about those things that are hard to talk about with others- fears, anxieties, struggles.
As your therapist, I will help you in the following ways:
Guide you by asking the right questions to help you learn new things about yourself, better understand what troubles you, and consider different ways of viewing problems, relationships, and what is important to you.
Teach you new strategies and tools to cope with stressors in your life. You will learn new ways of thinking and how to manage strong emotions.
Encourage you to get out of your comfort zone and challenge you to try something different. This will build your confidence and help you realize your capabilities. Therapy is a unique experience because your therapist is always “on your side.” It can be incredibly healing to have someone who sees the best in you and is cheering you on.
You go girl!
You have taken a step towards wellness, and that should be celebrated!
