First appointment with therapist?

[dazdnconfusd]

Hi,

I have my first appointment with a psychotherapist tomorrow to try to work through some personal issues I've been trying to deal with (but not really succeeding very well). Can anyone tell me what I should expect?

Will I be expected to open my mouth and just start talking, or will she ask me specific questions? I've kept so much bottled up over the last year that I'm not even sure where I'd start and it's kind of stressing me out.

Thanks

(and yes, this is not my regular screen name ).

 

[Disneycrazymom]

No need to worry. Many people see a counselor at some time in their lives.

He or she will spend the first part of the appointment getting to know you a little bit. They will ask some questions about your life and family. Then they will probably give you the opportunity to explain what got you to make the appointment. Finally they will ask some questions to help you tell your story so they can understand the general idea of what is bothering you. While it is always hard to talk to someone you don't know well they will try hard to help you feel comfortable and will not push you to say more than you are ready to share.

 

[tiggersbombed2]

She'll get you started with some questions. It's not hard, it's easy and she'll work with you to get you to understand some things about yourself. Don't worry, just relax and let her guide you.

 

[disfan07]

I went to my first appointment with a new therapist last friday actually. She does two 1 1/2 hour appointments as "initial consultations". It is basically asking about your history, what types of problems you are having, etc. I have my second consulation appointment tomorrow and then I start actual therapy next week.

For the therapist I go to, her initial consult is really about getting to know you and getting to know the types of problems you have been having. My therapist goes into a little more depth because she specializes in mental health issues related to medical issues which is why I am seeing her. So she goes through my entire medical history as well as everything else.

The initial consult also allows you to get a feel for the therapist and decide if you want to actually begin treatment with them. I don't sign consent to treatment or confidentiality agreements until tomorrows appointment so technically, she is not treating me yet. I am usualy able to tell if I want to stay with a therpaist based on the initial consulation and that is what it is for.

It is really about getting to know you and your history and to begin to build trust with you adn allow you to make a decision about staying with them for traetment before the treatment actually begins. Every therpaist operates in a different way so it probably wont be exactly like what i experienced but it should be similiar in just getting a history and beginning to build patient/therapist trust relationship.

Even just after my initial consult with my therpaist I already feel better because she is so sweet and so kind that I can already tell that she realy cares about what she deos and about her patients. So what I am saying, is that at least for me, this was the best thing I have ever done and I believe it will help. So hopefully you will feel the same way when you go!

Hope that helps

 

[BEloveDisney]

When I did initial appointments with my patients, we spent the first session getting acquainted. We did general paperwork stuff, some family history (is there a history of mental health issues, drug and alcohol issues, etc), but nothing too serious. We talked about what made them come to treatment and what they want to get out of it.


I had some patients who would come in and spill their guts and provided all of the initial information on their own, but there were others that I would ask questions to get the information needed. You're therapist will be able to guide you through whatever you need to do. Don't worry about not knowing what to say or where to start. The therapist will help you out with all of that. There's on right or wrong response in therapy, just be honest.

Good luck!

 

[dazdnconfusd]

Thanks everyone for your support. It was a huge step for me to actually make the appointment...I've been keeping things bottled up for so long that I'm afraid that once I start letting it out I'm not going to be able to stop! I think I need an objective, non-judgemental person to talk about how I got to be in the state I'm in right now, and what I need to do to get my life back on track.

 

[jbcheerchick93]

i just want to say good luck, and i'm sure you will feel much better after you start getting things out of your system

 

[katesorad]

I've been to several therapists for my anxiety as well as problems arising from my ADD and mild dyslexia. The only therapist I had that I really, truly connected with 100% was the one at a boarding school that I went to from 2006-2007. During my first session with her, I made it clear that I was uncomfortable. We stayed on very surfacey subjects and she told me about herself and why she's a therapist, etc.

You'll be fine. Even if you don't click with this therapist, don't worry. You'll find another who will be perfect for you. Sometimes it takes work, but when it all comes down to it, therapy is an amazing thing that can really help you through life's difficulties.

 

[dazdnconfusd]

i just want to say good luck, and i'm sure you will feel much better after you start getting things out of your system

Thanks.

My friends have always called me 'the strong one'. Lately, though, I've been really questioning the decisions I've made and where I'm heading. There really isn't anyone that I feel I can talk to about what I'm going through right now and it's kind of tearing me apart.

I actually feel a bit better with just having made the appointment...like I might be finally moving out of the rut I've been in.

 

[Imzadi]

Every therapist works differently. Generally they will ask you why you are there and what you hope to get out of therapy and then go from there.

You also have the right to ask HOW they work, what techniques, processes philosophies and type of counseling they do. There are sooo many different types of therapies. As as regular people in real life, you may or may not have a good fit.

You have a right to be (relatively) comfortable with your therapist, and agree to the kind of techniques & processes they do. If they are into emotive/screaming therapies and you are just not that kind of person, it might not be a good fit. On the other hand, it may be exactly what you need, if you tend to be unemotional and detached from your emotions ad stuck in your head. You need to be able to agree with the type of therapy you will be doing together and confident in your therapist.

 

[disfan07]

I actually feel a bit better with just having made the appointment...like I might be finally moving out of the rut I've been in.

That was so me. I have been telling myself for about the past 6 months that I would ask my primary doc. for recommendations for a therpaist because in my mind I KNEW i needed to talk to someone but everytime I would go see her, I would "forget". I finally asked her when I saw her 2 weeks ago, I called the therapist that afternoon and started last friday. Just getting the name adn calling made me feel better and the intial appointment with her seemed to take a huge weight off of my shoulders already.

Good Luck

 

[dazdnconfusd]

Thanks again for all of your well-wishes and helpful advice, and a special thanks to the poster who sent me a PM...I wrote you a long response, but forgot that I don't have enough posts on this account to send PMs.

Making the appointment was definitely the right move for me. It felt really good to finally open up and let it all out. She helped me along with leading questions, but mostly I just talked - it was a lot easier than I thought it would be.

 

[quasar4legs]

So pleased that things went well.

Best wishes for the future.

Quasar