What You Should Know About Therapy
Therapy can be life-changing in the best way possible (speaking as both a therapist and therapy client myself). It also can be a little nerve-wracking going into therapy for the first time. If you’re thinking about starting therapy, but a little nervous to dive in, keep reading!
Therapy is about YOU
Sure, that probably sounds obvious, but it’s important to remember. Therapy is about helping you work through the things that brought you to therapy. That means you get to decide what to work on in therapy. Your therapist can offer feedback and support, but if you ever feel like they’re missing the mark, make sure to tell them!
Your therapist should always have you and your well-being in mind while working together. Because of this, they should encourage you to share any concerns or ask any questions you may have about the process. It’s important that you are honest with your therapist, and that means letting them know what is and is not working for you.
There are many different types of therapy
This is a really helpful thing to know, because successful therapy has a lot to do with finding a therapist who’s a good fit for you. You want to feel comfortable meeting and talking with your therapist (besides the initial nervousness which is totally normal).
Ask questions during your initial phone consultation to help you get an idea of your therapist’s style. And, make sure to let the therapist know what you’re hoping to get out of therapy. They might not be the best fit for you, but they might know another therapist who is!
You don’t have to worry about hurting your therapist’s feelings!
Ok, so I’m not encouraging anyone to be rude to their therapist. What I’m saying is, part of the process of therapy is having difficult conversations with your therapist. That can mean speaking up and letting your therapist know if something they said didn’t fit for you.
Remember, your therapist is there to help you, and part of that means talking through any issues that come up and re-strategizing when needed. Be honest with your therapist about what is and isn’t working. Trust me, they can take it (and if they can’t, maybe consider finding a new therapist).
You can talk about whatever you want (and if you don’t know what to talk about, that’s ok too!)
Therapy is a space for you to talk about whatever’s on your mind. That means nothing is off topics. On the flip side, it’s ok if you don’t know what you want to talk about or where to start! You can always tell your therapist if you just aren’t sure what to say and let them take it from there.
Therapy is great, and I highly encourage anyone considering therapy to take the leap. Like starting anything new, it can feel a bit intimidating at first. Ready to get started, but still have a few questions? Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation and let’s talk!
