It’s totally normal to be nervous about starting therapy. It can feel intimidating to sit with someone and talk about how you feel. The fear around that can feel overwhelming sometimes. Going to therapy even when you are nervous is not easy. It may take courage to take those steps. You reading this now shows that you are already stepping in the right direction.
Therapy is a space where you can be yourself and come just as you are, including feeling nervous. Our therapists are committed to finding a way to care for your nervousness and ensure sessions are as comfortable as possible.
Take your time to read through our website. If you sense that we could help you, you can reach out.
During your call with us, you’ll be able to tell us what's up. Once we understand your needs, we will help you choose the therapist that is right for you. Or if you already have a therapist in mind, you may request them.
You can also ask us more about your therapist. You might be curious about how they have helped other people like you before.
The first sessions are like an experiment to see how things go. During the sessions, you’ll be able to see how you feel working with your therapist. Every therapist's approach is not going to work for everyone. What’s most important to us is that you find the right fit for you. We can explore that together.
It's natural to not want to share some of the painful or difficult things we've been through.
During sessions it will always be up to you if you feel ready to talk about something or not. Your therapist will collaborate with you to understand what you feel ready to open up about. Together you'll work through the difficult stuff.
You can also share with your therapist that you are nervous to open up about something and they will be able to talk about that too. Bring that to session and you can explore that with your therapist. You don't have to share the things that you are too nervous to talk about, but talking about being nervous might help you feel more connected to your therapist.
If you open up to your therapist, they will not think you are too sensitive. They will think you are someone who went through a lot. We know this because many of our clients have had the same fear (that people would think they are too sensitive).
Through our own life journeys and working with many clients, we know how ‘normal’ your experience is.
You're not being dramatic or "too much." Nothing you can say will cause your therapist to judge you. many of us are overwhelmed, we all have our imperfections, we all suffer in different ways.
Whatever it is you're going through, we provide a calming space where your therapist will respect you and and listen with focus and compassion.
We highly respect your privacy and value your trust.
It can be concerning feeling like things you say or do in therapy could "get out." So we want you to know that unless you are in danger or someone else is, your story is confidential and your time in the session is protected.
You can rest assured that you can talk about anything without fear of that information getting out.
If you have specific questions about how confidentiality works, just ask and we can help give you all the details about how we keep your information safe and private.
You might be asking about how long therapy will take because you are currently struggling and want relief fast.
If this is true for you, we want you to know that on average, our new clients start seeing small amounts of growth after the first 3-5 sessions.
By that point, they they feel a little more calm and hopeful that healing is possible.
The total duration of therapy varies from client to client. Some of our clients find 4-6 months to be enough to resolve immediate challenges. While other clients feel more supported by longer term therapy.
You can work together with your therapist to find the length of time that works for you.
Overall, you can think of the first session as a structured assessment that helps your therapist get to know you and the challenges that brought you into treatment. Your therapist will invite you to share more about yourself and you can also share what’s worked or not worked for your mental health in the past.
Some questions that your therapist may ask during a first session include:
- What brought you to therapy?
- What goals would you like to reach by going to therapy?
- What do I need to know about you to understand your current challenges?
You can ask your therapist questions as well. You might be curious about the therapist's experience or how future sessions work.
The most important part of a first session is to experience what therapy is like with your therapist. If you feel safe, accepted, and supported with your therapist, you can discuss if you’d like to meet again.
Schedule a free phone or video consultation call in the online scheduler. If you have any questions you would like us to answer before you have a consultation, just let us know. You can text us at 323.474.0521 or email: [email protected]