Choosing to begin therapy is a huge step towards improved mental health. To maximize the therapy’s outcome and lower anxiety, making advance preparations for your first session can be quite beneficial.
In this article, we will look at tips that will help you get ready for your first therapy appointment. Let’s right into it.
Celebrate Your Plan to Get Help
Seeking treatment for yourself is a brave act. It means you have overcome the stigmas associated with mental health treatment and the fear of the process. As you work through problems you will find it to be so beneficial in many ways. Therefore, you should be happy that you are seeking treatment.
Request a Phone Consultation
Just skip ahead to the next tip if you despise or feel anxious speaking to someone you’ve not met personally on phone. Having a phone consultation before starting treatment is just an option. Yet, it has its benefits.
Through a phone conversation, you can ask some questions that might be bothering you. The answers you receive would make you relaxed and better prepared for the physical session. Furthermore, it will help you get somewhat familiar with the therapist.
During a phone consultation with a possible new therapist, here are some useful questions to ask:
- What approach do you take when helping someone?
- Have you worked with folks whose issues are like mine?
- Are you responsible for creating treatment plans? If yes, will you involve me in the process?
- During the first session and next ones, what should I expect?
- What are you looking for from me? What assignments would I be given?
Determine Your Therapy “Why”
When a client visits a mental health practitioner, a common question they ask is what led them to treatment. You can read this article to find out reasons why you need to see a therapist. This is crucial as the client’s goals enable the therapist to design a beneficial schedule for the therapy sessions. List your symptoms, including annoying thoughts, feelings, actions, past events, present circumstances, and pressures.
Knowing the overall reason, you are seeking therapy will help you feel ready for your initial visit to a therapist. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t worry yourself so much if you can’t come up with a list of worries and objectives. To find and communicate your “why,” consider your motivations for pursuing therapy. Also, think about what you hope to get out of the treatment rather than merely letting vague notions circle through your head.
Your technique for determining your why might follow these steps:
- Spend some time—preferably 10 to 15 minutes—thinking about your goal.
- Choose a peaceful, cozy place free of interruption.
- Start a journal just for therapy. Choose a notebook you love and even special pen.
- Sipping your preferred, healthy beverage will help you to make the process pleasant and lower tension. Write in silence or turn on some music—whichever helps your thinking process.
- Start first with your end objective: After working with a therapist, how would you want to feel, think, and behave? Try free writing whatever that comes to you and then grouping your ideas.
- Jot down a few thoughts on what is keeping you from experiencing this today.
Inform a Loved One or Friend
While attending treatment is entirely optional, having a support system can be helpful. You can visit https://fastercapital.com/ to find out the role of support systems in recovery. A loved one of friend can check in with you regarding your first session and next visits. They will also help you continue to process the lessons outside the office sessions.
Create a Topic List to Address
The first meeting with any therapist might be a little embarrassing. You are, after all, meeting a stranger to go over possibly embarrassing topics. Where then do you even start?
With a good therapist you don’t have much to worry about. They will gently calm you and guide the initial session. Still, showing up ready with what you want to discuss during therapy might help to lower anxiety.
So, we recommend you create a list of topics you wish to cover during the first session and carry it with you. List in your diary subjects you might wish to talk about in your first session. Having it with you when you see your therapist will help you to remain focused and centered.
You could think about including subjects such as:
- Difficulties you are now experiencing that you would want to discuss in next sessions. (Mentioned subjects will enable the therapist to steer next sessions).
- Recent changes in your life that drove you to get treatment.
- Strategies you have already used to start feeling better.
- Notes from friends or relatives (have they voiced concern about particular attitudes or actions?)
- Details on your personal background—that of your family, noteworthy events, etc.
- How long have you been having your present problems (if social anxiety bothers you, for example, has this afflicted you for a while or is it recent?)
Evaluate Your Life History and See How That Might Affect You Right Now
Evaluating your family, life events, and personal history can help you to understand how they have shaped you. Consider what comes to mind regarding many aspects of your life. Ask these questions:
- Do you avoid any person or certain persons?
- Feelings you steer clear of?
- Circumstances you steer clear of?
- Past events you find yourself avoiding thinking about?
Knowing the answers to these questions will help you to have some understanding of areas that might demand focus.
Dress Comfortably
Therapy is meant for you, hence there is no need to feel under pressure about your wardrobe. You should be at ease in your session, hence if it is too hot or cold, wear layers. Wear sweat pants instead if you find it difficult to spend a lot of time seated in some jeans. Choose comfort first whatever you decide.
Conclusion
Mental health issues shouldn’t be swept under the carpet or dismissed as unimportant. If you are dealing with any mental issue, we recommend that you carefully find a mental health therapist. This professional will help you recover and gain total wellness. Once you’ve found a therapist, follow the tips in this article to plan for your first consultation session.
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