6 Tips How to Prepare for Your First Therapy Session
Now that you have made up your mind to visit a therapist, pat your back. The first step towards achieving mental wellness is taken. However, it can be helpful to make a few preparations before your first appointment so that you feel ready. When you are mentally prepared, you can position yourself to get the most out of the therapy from the very beginning.
Why You Need To Prepare For The First Therapy Session?
Are you feeling nervous before your first therapy? It is absolutely fine to get nervous. However, it is important for you to recollect yourself and define the therapy goals. You can write down your major concerns so that nothing misses out. Below is why prior preparations are crucial before getting started:
- Early preparation helps you organize everything so that you can present your concerns related to a mental health disorder effectively.
- It allows you to introspect, thereby enabling you to know about your strengths and weaknesses.
- You can list the most pressing matters that are causing you distress.
- It lets you recall the other concerns that eventually lead to the bigger problems in life.
- You feel ready and start with better control of yourself.
What Should Be Your Temperament In The First Therapy Session?
It is crucial to have a controlled temperament during the therapy session. In the therapy session, you have the opportunity to express yourself and get help with your existing issues. Having a stable temperament lets you present your issues in a better way and get the best results. Therefore.
- If you are feeling nervous, it’s fine. You can tell your therapist about it and things will ease out for you.
- Keep your therapy goals clear in your mind, and the sessions will automatically align with them. If not, you will keep juggling between the multi-faceted issues, and the important concerns won’t get the required attention.
- Whatever you say will remain confidential so you can talk openly. Well! This is the whole point of seeking help from a psychotherapist.
- The sessions offer a secure space where you can share everything without being judged, so make the most out of it.
How To Prepare For The First Therapy Session?
After covering some crucial pointers, here are some effective preparations for your first therapy session:
1: Speak To Your Therapist
It is hard to determine how a therapy works until you attend a few sessions. However, you can speak to your therapist and develop your understanding of it in the initial phase. Thus, you can attend the sessions in a more meaningful manner. Moreover, it can also help you get rid of the anxiety you might be feeling. You can ask some important questions, such as:
• What will be your approach to the treatment?
• Which specific therapy will be effective in my case?
• How do you create the treatment plans, and what will my role be in it?
• What are the prerequisites that I need to keep in mind?
• How will the sessions roll out?
2: Define Therapy Goals
You need to have your therapy goals very clear in your mind. Underneath the umbrella of the major issues, there lie many other important aspects, such as past experiences, emotions, behavior, distressing thoughts, triggers, and symptoms. You can list them all in the comprehensive categories, and it will give you an insight into your current situation.
Not necessarily elaborated, but you need to have at least a general idea of what is going on. Thus, you can think of what you want to achieve from your therapy sessions. Once you are clear, you can elaborate on everything to your therapist as well. Your feed will help them design well-thought-out treatment plans.
3: Calibrate Your Expectations
Before you attend the first session, it is important to have realistic expectations. Therapy sessions are effective, but they are not like flashing a magic wand to give results in no time. When setting up expectations, you need to keep a few things in mind. Therapies take time to deliver the desired results.
Besides, the sessions are rendered in a pre-designed manner. The initial sessions are to engage, empathise and validate clients. Then comes the phase wherein, experts define the problems and identify the vicious cycle pattern. Setting goals, designing treatment plans, bringing it into effect, monitoring the changes, making adjustments to the plan are some of the crucial phases of the therapy. They take time, so you need to be prepared.
4: Reserve Plenty Of Time Before & After Therapy
Take your first session when you have a full day off. You need to have sufficient time before and after the therapy. You need to be mentally prepared and consolidate yourself for your first session. Clear your mind and try to keep yourself free from other businesses to avoid unnecessary hassles.
Also, the therapy can be a roller coaster ride of the emotions. You need time to get stable after the therapy and thoroughly analyze everything. Getting engaged in daily chores right after the session can prevent you from getting the useful insights into the session.
5: Dress Comfortably and Feel Relaxed
When reaching to the therapy setup, you need to feel completely relaxed. Besides, wear a comfortable dress, such as light linens or cottons, that remain breathable throughout the day. It is important to feel comfortable during the session to ensure an active participation.
Moreover, find comfort in the fact that you will not be judged based on what you say, and it will remain fully confidential. So, don’t afraid of speaking your heart out, and being honest during the session.
6: Compare Before & After Thoughts
Therapy sessions can bring up deep feelings, unaddressed emotions, and unexpected insights. It also helps you introspect into your personal reflection. Therefore, it is crucial to compare before and after thoughts. You will not only understand better your current situation but also get to know about the problematic thinking and behavioural patterns that are causing distress in your life. Comparing your mental state before and after the therapy will help you understand the difference.
Key Takeaway!
Indeed, it is helpful to prepare yourself for your first therapy session. At the same time, it is important to find the best therapist to address the issues related to your mental health and well-being. Once you are ready to get started, book your first therapy session to achieve mental and psychological wellness.
