What to Remember When Going to Therapy
Starting counseling can be difficult especially if you have never seen a therapist previously. The process can seem intimidating and it is hard to know what to expect. In order to reduce the stigma of going to therapy it is important to go over some tips on how to begin. Going to therapy should be as normal as going to a doctors office. It does not mean you are not strong but the complete opposite, you should be so proud of yourself. You want to make sure to maximize your time in your therapy journey and these tips will help you get the most out of it. It does not matter if it is your first session or you have been going for years, these reminders are always beneficial.
Tips For Going to Therapy:
-First, pick your therapist. Research different practices and professionals, see what they specialize in and if they can help you. If not, they can help refer you.
-Research different types of therapy there is a variety and you have to make sure it is right for you (CBT, DBT, Person-Centered, ect.)
-Make yourself a schedule, how often do you need to see your therapist? Weekly, biweekly, or monthly?
-Have your sessions at a time that is good for you, less stressful, and does not interfere with your schedule or other commitments. Leave time before and after to calm down if your session is emotional for you.
-Ask your therapist for homework outside of the session to work on between. The activities give you time to reflect on and monitor your progress.
-Talk about how your therapy is going, what is helping and what is not. This way you can change the Treatment Plan if needed.
-Confide in someone you trust about how your progress is going. This can be a friend or family member.
-Take something comforting with you to fidget with, it can be used as a grounding tool. (A rock or crystal, a pen, a rubix cube, or whatever works best for you)
-Be honest, this is hard, but it is best. Be open, be vulnerable, and trusting.
-Do not talk about anything that you are not ready to talk about. The pace is all yours!
-You are in control and you can choose to lead the session. It is all about you.
-Do not expect it to be an easy progress, it takes time.
-Do not judge how it is going based off of the first few sessions. Most of these are intake surveys, and sometimes are the hardest sessions. It will not always be hard.
-Take notes in a journal between sessions. This way you track progress, write down things you want to talk about, and prevent you from being forgetful. (maximizing your investment)
-Choose what setting you need, group therapy, family therapy, marriage therapy, online (Telehealth), or one-on-one!
-Be patient therapy does not work right away, it takes time and effort! It is a commitment.
-Be brave, you are doing this for yourself and it is so admirable!
To utilize counseling at Skye Counseling
Contact us at: (702) 930-9383
(now offering Telehealth at home)