“Do I really need to come to therapy to talk about these issues? Can’t I just figure out how to deal with them on my own? Couldn’t I just talk to a friend or relative?”
Therapy and the therapeutic relationship offers something very unique from what you can offer yourself and what you can find in the other relationships in your life. It allows you to meet with a trained professional who is objective, will keep what you share confidential, and prioritizes you throughout the entirety of the session. I think we can all agree that it is often quite difficult for us to get all of these (or even some of them) from ourselves or others in our life. In our society many people have been conditioned to think that asking for help equals weakness. From where I sit, asking for help takes an incredible amount of strength and is one of the bravest things a person can do.
“What should I look for in a therapist?”
Looking for a therapist can be overwhelming to some because there is a wide range in terms of how people practice and what they offer. However, I would say that the most important question you need to ask yourself is, “Do I feel comfortable with this person?” The first few sessions should give you a good sense of whether or not you feel comfortable with a therapist, and if they are giving you a better understanding of yourself. Your sense of comfort, a non-judgmental atmosphere, and a general feeling of being helped are the best guides to what therapist is right for you.
“Do I need to do anything to prepare for my first session?”
I think that coming to your first session with an open mind, as well as having thought about your goals for therapy can both be very helpful. Some people jot down things that they want to share because it feels helpful to them, but this is absolutely not necessary. It is common for people to be nervous and this can of course make it difficult to share. I will come prepared with specific questions to ask you and explore, in addition to anything that you may want to share. I think this can help people with that first session because it can give it some structure.
“What can I expect in a therapy session?”
This will depend on your goals, and the tools that we choose together to help you reach those goals. However, it will likely involve some combination of discussing your present day life and exploring your past. I can give you a better sense of this in our first couple of sessions once we have collaborated on how we want to approach our work.
“How often will we meet for therapy? How long will it last?”
Some people like to meet weekly. Some people prefer every other week or less frequently. Some people find that meeting more frequently in the beginning helps us build up momentum in our work together and that we can slowly meet less frequently as things improve. We will continuously assess how you are feeling about the work, if you are finding it helpful, if there is anything else you are needing from the process, and if you feel like we are headed in the right direction.
“Do I need to be on medication? Are you going to push me to go on medication?”
You do not need to be on medication in order to start or be in therapy. The decision to go on medication is a very personal one and should be discussed with the appropriate medical providers. I am not able to prescribe medication as it is outside of my scope of practice. If you are interested in medication, or are currently taking medication, I am always willing and available to work with you and your medical provider in any way that you feel would be helpful. I can also help with referrals if needed/desired by you.
“Is what I talk about in therapy confidential?”
This is a common and understandable concern. Yes, what you share in therapy is confidential with only a few exceptions. The exceptions are if you are in danger of harming yourself or others, if there is a suspicion of child or elder abuse, or in the case of a court subpoena. Otherwise, what you share is confidential. We will spend time reviewing this in our first session so that you can ask any questions you may have. I want to make sure that we can work on building a relationship that feels trusting and safe so that you can get the most out of our work together.