It’s natural to feel anxious before starting therapy. If you didn’t have any worries at all, that would be unusual. Even people who have been to treatment before may be nervous about seeing a new mental health professional. Your first therapy session can be anxiety provoking. You don’t know what to expect if you’ve never been to therapy before, but remember that you’re there to get help. Therapy is a safe place to talk about anything that you’re going through, and you can work on building your coping skills to handle whatever mental health condition you have, whether it’s Depression, OCD, PTSD, or even Schizophrenia. Therapy is a place to be candid about your feelings. Your therapist cares and is there to listen. You might be afraid to start talking, but remember that it’s okay to take things one step at a time.
Vulnerability and opening up
Some people struggle with expressing their emotions. If you’re one of those individuals, you’re not alone. You might be used to keeping your feelings inside. That’s okay, and you don’t have to share everything at once. It can be hard to feel safe at first with a therapist that you’ve never met before. Maybe, you’re not comfortable expressing your feelings to them yet. It’s okay to take it slow – start by talking about your job and who your friends are. Things don’t have to be so severe at first. Talk about yourself and what represents who you are so that your therapist will understand who you are, how you feel, and what you stand for. Once you get to know each other a little bit more and you can confirm with yourself that this therapist is a good fit for you, you’ll begin feeling more comfortable with them.
Be yourself
The best way to get the most out of therapy is to be authentic. You don’t have to pretend to be happy or make it look like your life is perfect. You’re in therapy because there’s something in your life that you want to work on, and your therapist isn’t there to judge. They’ve seen it all and if you’ve never been to therapy before, understand that they’ve seen someone “crazier” than you. It’s okay to have thoughts that don’t make sense to you. It’s okay not to know how to deal with your problems and to be at a loss. Just be yourself and express those feelings and what you’re going through the best you can because your therapist wants to help and they can only help if they have the whole truth.
Feeling uncomfortable
When you feel uncomfortable, it’s okay to express that out loud; you can say “I’m feeling uncomfortable” or “I’m feeling anxious.” Your therapist will be able to help you if they know that you’re not feeling comfortable. There’s no wrong way to feel. You can feel sad, angry, or even happy to be in therapy. Some people find it easy to open up, and some don’t; they struggle to do so. The moral of the story is people are different. It’s okay to be honest, and move at your own pace.
Online therapy
Online therapy is a fantastic place to find out more about yourself and find ways to help yourself by seeing a licensed therapist. It’s a brave move to seek mental health treatment. Seeing an online therapist can help you learn to understand your emotional problems, and take charge of your life. You have the right to feel your feelings and get help, even if it might seem scary, and online therapy is a great place to work through these issues. Remember – you are the most accurate judge of your mental health. You have the right to be well, and online therapy can help you get there. Whether you choose to work with a therapist online or in your neighborhood, the goal is the same – getting to a place of balance. If you’re feeling nervous about your first therapy session, that’s natural. You can get through these feelings and start achieving a sense of emotional balance.
This is a featured post by site sponsor Better Help.
Photo credit: Shutterstock