What To Expect At Your First Therapy Appointment

Whether you just scheduled your very first therapy appointment, or you are jumping back into the game with a new therapist, thinking about your first session can make you nervous. And that is totally normal! You are going to be meeting a stranger who is going to ask you very personal questions that you need to give honest answers to. Things will most likely get emotional and uncomfortable at some point. You have to be totally vulnerable with this stranger. You might cry. It all seems very overwhelming.

Well, I wanted to create this post to take some of the mystery away and help you to feel more at ease. Therapy should be your safe place, and I am going to take you there. I'm going to talk about how your first session might go, what could come up and how to start your therapy journey on the right foot.

Before your appointment, either online or in the office, you will most likely have to fill out intake forms. These forms will include questions about your medical history, a review of any mental health services you have received in the past, current issues or stressors and what you hope to get out of therapy.

Once you are called back for your appointment your therapist will guide you to sit down and get comfortable. There will most likely be pleasantries exchanged and some small talk will happen. Then the questions will start. Here are some sample questions that you might get asked and why they matter.

Why did you seek out therapy?
The therapist will be interested to know if there has been a major event in your life that pushed you towards therapy. This helps your therapist to understand your core problem and what you are interested in working on.

How have you been coping with the problem prior to scheduling your appointment?
This question helps the therapist to understand how you handle stressful situations and tough emotions. Utilizing or building on your current coping practices is one way your therapist can help you.

Is this your first time in therapy?
You therapist will be trying to figure out if you were in therapy before, was it a positive or negative experience. If it was negative, what would you have done differently? This answer helps to drive your sessions.

What was it like growing up in your family?
Learning about a client's childhood and their family dynamics can help the therapist understand who their client is today and how they got there.

Do you think about harming yourself or suicide?
Your therapist wants to make sure that they are offering the right level of care. Asking this question may stir up some dark emotions in you, but it is crucial that you are honest with your answer. If you do answer yes, you can expect to hear follow-up questions like "Do you have a suicide plan?" and "Do you have the means to carry out the plan?"

Do you feel connected to the people around you?
Loneliness is a tough feeling and can have serious mental health implications. Your therapist needs to know if you have a solid support system in place. If you dont' your therapist will work with you to help you build one.

What do you hope to accomplish in therapy?
This question allows you to voice your expectations of therapy and allows your therapist to help you manage your expectations. Be as specific as possible when answering so that your goals are crystal clear.

Is there anything else that you can do to prepare for your first therapy appointment? It's important for you to think about how you want therapy to go. What do you expect from your therapist? Figure this out prior to your first appointment and be sure to share your thoughts with your therapist on that first day.

Be prepared to talk a lot. You can expect to spend a large portion of the first session talking, specifically about yourself. And remember when you are talking to speak up if there is something you want your therapist to know. They aren't mind readers after all.

Therapist know that revealing all can be daunting but remember you are the captain of your therapy ship. If you would rather not talk about something just let your therapist know and they will bookmark it for another time.

Therapy is not a place where you should feel judged. You should feel comfortable, heard and supported. It;s okay if you don't click with your new therapist. Sometimes finding the right therapist for you can take a lot of time.

Make a list of any questions you have for your new therapist so that you don't forget to ask anything that is important to you.

Last, remember that therapy isn't a quick fix, it's a process. You might feel worse before you feel better. Don't get discouraged or frustrated. It's all a part of the process. Be proud of yourself for taking this step towards managing your mental health and finding healthy ways to approach your life and relate with others.