My thoughts on ...
Preparing for Therapy: What to Expect in Your First Session:
Therapy is a place where we create a new life moving forward while simultaneously cleaning up the past. In working with a therapist, the client will gain insight to amend problems of the past, learn and create new habits for moving forward, and discover what it means to enjoy the present. In short, we make life better.
Most people come into therapy with any number of different problems. Some people have trouble in relationships. Some are paralyzed by events of the past. Some are stuck or feel meaningless. Some people only know that there is a problem or that something is wrong, but don’t know what the problem is. Therapy is meant to help with any of the problems unique to being human.
What can you expect? This depends on you and your therapist. I can’t tell you how long it will take, and any provider who suggests so is unethically misleading you. I have heard of diagnosed personality disorders taking years. I have heard of depression cases taking three sessions. The human mind and spirit are unique to every person. It really depends on you and your situation.
The most helpful advice I can give here is to find a therapist that you trust and is working for you. No therapist is good for every person. We’re all different as people and we each specialize with different populations and needs. If you don’t have a good connection or vibe with your therapist, then you won’t trust their leadership and will likely not make any worthwhile changes. This may take a few sessions to uncover.
How will you know if this therapist is right for you? The shortest answer is trust your gut. Do you conclude (based on your thoughts, judgments, wants, and feelings) after a few sessions that this therapist is right for you? Keep in mind that just because something does not FEEL good does not mean that it IS not good! Our feelings can be deceiving. Eating vegetables may not FEEL good in terms of taste, but certainly IS good for you.
That’s why I encourage you to pay attention to the overall quality of your life. Therapeutic endeavors can be hard, scary, vulnerable, or unpleasant to face in a session. They can also be relieving, calm inducing, strengthening, or gratifying. I cannot tell you from here exactly what happens in a session. I CAN tell you that life will feel and look better as we move forward.
There are no secrets. Therapy is simple and profound. It is a continual endeavor of coming into greater truth and being more present in the good life that we are creating. One of my mentors instilled in me: There is nowhere to get than more here. That is what we do in counseling. You will be surprised how good life can be when you have cleaned up the past, processed your pain, and set on a course with healthy habits that are pleasurable, meaningful, and fulfilling.