Finding a Good Fit
Finding a potential therapist who fits your personality and who you can be comfortable with is important. Even if the first person you find ends up not working out, don’t give up. It’s OK to look for a new therapist.
The last thing you need is to get stuck with a bad therapist.
The important thing is that you stick with your commitment to getting the individual therapy you need.
Preparing for Therapy
There isn’t much you need to do to prepare for your first therapy session. A good therapist will guide you every step of the way.
You’ll likely have to fill out some basic paperwork with your personal information and your insurance details. You may be asked to complete a brief questionnaire or write a short explanation about why you’re seeking therapy.
Beyond that, there really won’t be much a therapist asks you to do before your first session together. One thing you can work on before you actually go into the first session is attempt to create an elevator pitch of your reasons for seeking therapy. Try to come up with a succinct, clear, simple explanation that expresses your ultimate goals.
Have an idea of what to expect
Your first therapy session will primarily consist of you giving background information to the therapist. You’ll go over why you want therapy and what your goals are.
The therapist will explain their philosophy, their process, and other expectations they have for your work together. They’ll probably handle some housekeeping items like their payment process and what their cancellation policy is.
Decide how often you plan to meet
Often, therapy sessions are once a week for an hour at a time. But depending on the severity of your needs, your budget, the style of therapy you go with, and what the therapist suggests, you may agree to work together more often or decide to space appointments further out.
For example, you might discover that bi-weekly or weekly sessions work best for you.
Commit to the Process
For therapy to be successful, you need to be as open and dedicated as possible to the process. The more you put into it, the more benefits of therapy you’ll experience. There can, and likely will be, tough times along the way, but the reward is well worth everything you put into your healing process.
Be open and vulnerable
Make sure that you come to your therapy sessions as open and vulnerable as your comfort level will allow.
It’s natural to feel like you’re stepping way outside your comfort zone, but part of becoming mentally and emotionally healthy is working through things that you’ve probably pushed down or been afraid or unwilling to face for quite some time.
The more vulnerable you can be, the more quickly you’ll see results and feel the changes therapy can offer.
Don’t expect your therapist to have all of the answers
Therapists are educated and skilled in their profession, and the good ones can seem like they are miracle workers, but remember that they’re human. They won’t be able to give you all the answers, and truthfully that’s not something that would benefit you anyway.
Think of your therapist as a guide. They’ll walk with you throughout the process and help you make better choices and healthier decisions. At the end of the proverbial day, your therapy is yours. You make the choices. You make the decisions. You are the one who’ll grow — and it will be worth it.
Don’t rush the process
Some therapy techniques are intended to be short-term processes. That said, you can’t rush through the process. If you’re hoping to get the most effective results, it’s wise to let the process work for you, in the time that it should naturally take.
If you’re even thinking about how to start therapy, you’ve already taken a huge step. Take pride in the fact that you’re willing to look for mental health care when you need it. You are a strong person, and you deserve it.
Maintaining positive mental health is a key to increasing productivity, improving relationships, enhancing our self-images and achieving happiness. Clearwater recognizes this, and includes Talkspace with all the plans we offer. If you have questions about our Talkspace partnership or want to learn more about the plans in general, schedule a call today.