Frequently Asked Questions

Let's start at the beginning... Why everyone is worth of Therapy and so on....

 

I’m here to tell you that no one is any more or less deserving of therapy. There is no definitive ranking of life problems, or competition that results in being dubbed more worthy of help. In a perfect world — one in which we wouldn’t have to navigate the inequities of health care — I feel strongly that almost everyone could benefit from working with a therapist.

 

One of the biggest misconceptions about therapy is that it’s only intended to treat serious clinical mental illness or to help alleviate the most severe traumas. However, the beauty of therapy is that it’s quite the opposite — it’s designed to help with nearly every aspect of life, from the seemingly benign to the most devastating.

 

I’ve personally had sessions ranging from how to better express frustrations to a friend or handle minor work challenges, to more traditionally “serious” topics.  The impact of familial alcoholism, and coping with the ins and outs of anxiety and depression,

 

A first session can feel intimidating but remember that your therapist is trying to learn all they can so that they can set you up for success with the work you’ll do together in later sessions.

 

It is helpful to remember that anxiety before your first therapy session is totally normal. Remember to be open and write down personal goals that may help your anxiety (which is totally normal prior to starting therapy, so it doesn’t mean you should not attend). Remember that anxiety lives in your mind before an actual event occurs and usually eases with experience.

How to prepare for your first session.

·        Preparing for your first therapy session beforehand can help manage anxiety.

·        Taking some time to think about your personal goals for therapy can help to establish a strong plan for treatment.

·        Talking to others in your life about therapy can help to alleviate your nerves, identify new goals, and decrease stigma.

·        Be open minded about your new therapist—but if something feels "off" or it's not a good fit, trust your gut.

Is it normal to cry during a therapy session?

·        Safety and trust are necessary components of a therapeutic relationship. If you find yourself crying during a first session, especially if you are NOT typically a crier, it means that these two elements have been established. It is a great sign that this relationship may be right for you.

 

·        Crying is a normal emotion when we express our feelings, and it helps to let it out. People usually feel overwhelmed about therapy that when they finally have the chance to release those guarded emotions, they become more emotional in the moment and leave feeling lighter.

 

·        It is normal to cry during the first session. Crying is a great release for the body and should not be seen as a weakness. We are all on a unique emotional journey that requires various emotions. Crying should be normalized in therapy and in life in general.


There will always be a box of Kleenex ready...

Understand this is not a quick fix.

In addition to feeling a bit anxious about your first therapy session, you might also feel excited. After all, you’re eager to feel better and improve your wellbeing. This is a great attitude that will keep you motivated even when therapy might be difficult; however, it can also set you up for disappointment in your first session.

It’s important to have realistic expectations for the therapeutic process in general and the first session specifically. Therapy isn’t a quick fix, and you probably won’t discover solutions at your first session because mental health is complex. Just as it takes time for problems to develop and begin interfering in your life, it takes time to work through and unravel those challenges.

Perhaps the most important and most helpful aspect of therapy is the relationship between you and your therapist. This relationship, though, takes some time to develop. The two of you might begin to develop a strong rapport from the very first meet, but the deep connection and trust won’t develop instantly.

Further, while you’ll begin to express yourself during the session, it won’t be until later sessions that the therapist knows you well enough to know what to ask and how to interpret your words and nonverbal communication, and you feel comfortable enough to go deeper in what you express.

Therefore, it will be unlikely that you emerge from session one feeling transformed. It is, however, realistic to expect that after your first meeting you will feel a sense of hope that, with time and work, therapy will help your mental health and quality of life.