ASK A THERAPIST

Do I really need counseling? I can usually handle my problems.

Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties you’ve faced, there’s nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it. In fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realise they need a helping hand, and that is something to be admired. You are taking responsibility by accepting where you’re at in life and making a commitment to change the situation by seeking therapy. Therapy provides long-lasting benefits and support, giving you the tools you need to avoid triggers, re-direct damaging patterns, and overcome whatever challenges you face.

What if I don’t want to talk about something with my therapist?

If something feels overwhelming or even terrifying to discuss, that’s actually very normal. It can often feel difficult to talk about some things. During sessions, your therapist will never push you to talk about things that are too painful for you to talk about. They will be there to guide you towards discovering what feels comfortable for you to share. Working at your pace, together you can look at the tough stuff if you’re ready. You can also share with them that you are nervous to open up about something, and you and your therapist can talk about that too. Whatever is present for you. Whatever you are going through. Bring that to session and you can explore that together.

What can I expect during my first session?

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. They’ll invite you to share more about yourself, and you can also talk about what’s worked or not worked for your mental health in the past.

Some questions that your therapist might ask during a first session include:

• What brought you to therapy?

• Have you gone to therapy before? How did that go?

• 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 their experience or how future sessions work.

The most important part of a first session is that you see if you feel your therapist is a good fit for you. If you feel supported, seen, and at ease with them, you can discuss if you’d like to meet again.

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