Meeting a New Therapist for the First Time? Here’s How to Prepare
Working with a therapist or psychologist is challenging, but there are lots of potential benefits. Because of this, your choice of therapist is critical. They need to be someone you feel comfortable with, someone you trust, and someone who has experience with the kinds of issues you’re facing. When you’re choosing a therapist it’s good to take some time to prepare for your first appointment. This helps you get more out of the session and helps you decide if they’re a good fit for what you need.
Think about What You Want
What do you want out of therapy? What things do you want to be different about your life? Do you need help with managing anxiety or dealing with trauma, or do you need someone to help you through a difficult life situation? The more specific you are about what you want and need, the better off you’ll be when it comes time to talk about these issues with the therapist.
Write it all down, if it helps. Many people find that writing helps them think more clearly about abstract issues, and the clearer you are in your own mind, the easier it will be to communicate with the therapist.
Review Your History
Another helpful way to prepare for your first session is to make a list of the specific issues and situations you want to talk about. This might include the current problems you’re facing and how they affect you, as well as any events in your life that have contributed to them.
Don’t be worried that some things might be too trivial to include. If it feels relevant to you, then it’s important! Again, writing all these things down can help you clarify what’s most important to you. And if you take your notes with you to your first session it’s easier to make sure you don’t forget anything you want to say.
Make a List of Questions
Finally, make a list of questions that you want to ask your prospective therapist. For instance, you may want to ask them about their education and training, whether they’ve treated other clients with problems similar to yours, and what kinds of therapy techniques they use.
Therapy is about what you want and need, and a therapist is there to help you work towards it. They’ll provide lots of guidance for how your future sessions proceed, but ultimately it’s up to you to make sure that you communicate what your needs are.
It’s Normal to be Nervous
Don’t forget, it’s completely normal to be nervous when you meet your therapist for the first time, especially if it’s your first ever therapy session. But you have a lot to gain, and it’s definitely worth pushing past those uncomfortable feelings to attend your first session.