What Happens When Starting Therapy?
You’ve done it! You had your phone consultation and scheduled your first therapy appointment. Even though the phone consultation went smoothly and all of your questions were answered satisfactorily, you’re still feeling a little nervous. After all, starting therapy can be a little scary. You’re not quite sure what will happen during the first session. Although it is perfectly normal to feel this way, having an idea of what to expect can help decrease your anxiety. This article explores what to expect when starting therapy.
The First Session Is Different Than Other Sessions
The first therapy session is known as the intake session. This session is about getting to know each other and is about information gathering and determining how to proceed. It is more directive and less therapeutic than other sessions will be. During this session, we will go over the paperwork that you filled out as well as confidentiality and its limitations, and policies and procedures. I will gather a lot of background information and ask you about the reasons you entered therapy. Together, we will create your goals for therapy. I will also answer any questions you may have.
You Don’t Have To Share Everything In The First Session
Counseling is a collaborative effort and you are always the expert on you. Your feedback and questions are important and are valuable to the therapeutic process. While therapy works best when you are open and honest, it is okay to say that you don’t feel comfortable discussing something. It is normal to want to establish trust before sharing something that is deeply personal. Sometimes it takes several sessions before you feel enough trust has been built to start talking about some deeper issues. This is perfectly fine.
It Could Feel A Little Uncomfortable At Times
Therapy can bring up uncomfortable, and or unexpected, emotions. Sometimes sharing information about the past can bring up pleasant or funny memories. Other times, the memories might be very painful. You may have been struggling for some time before deciding to try therapy. Even though you kept these struggles to yourself, sharing them in therapy can bring up a lot of emotions. When some of these memories or feelings are brought up, you might cry. We may cry when we are sad, happy, relieved, or overwhelmed. Crying is a release and is a normal and healthy emotional response. Therapy provides a safe space to express, explore, and process your emotions and responses, although it may sometimes be a little uncomfortable.
At The End Of The Session We Will Come Up With A Plan
When the session is coming to an end, I will check in with you to see how you are doing. You can share how the session went for you, and if you would like to make another appointment. I will answer any questions that you may have and go over the cancellation policy and discuss how we might work together. We will determine what works best for future sessions based on your therapeutic goals and schedule. I will also continue to check in throughout the process to make sure we are in agreement on expectations and duration.
That’s it! Hopefully you now have a better idea of what to expect when starting therapy. Remember, it is perfectly normal to feel nervous, even when you have an idea of what will happen.
