It’s completely normal to have a mix of emotions before your first individual therapy appointment. Working one-on-one with a therapist is the best way to improve your mental health and stimulate deep growth in all aspects of life. Once you find a therapist you trust and feel comfortable speaking with honestly, you will find yourself working toward and meeting goals that improve your life for the better.
Every therapist has their own style and specializations. Think of the first session as a meet and greet that allows you to ask questions and explore the potential connection. You should leave that first appointment with a full understanding of how the therapist conducts appointments and how they can help you grow. They should also have a better understanding of what you hope to accomplish through counseling.
Open Your Mind, Your Ears & Your Mouth
There’s a lot more to individual therapy than resting on a couch and talking about your emotions and experiences. A trained professional will listen to you and provide a lot of guidance and advice, but they will also bring awareness to thoughts and behaviors that you’re not necessarily conscious of right now. They will guide you toward a deeper awareness of yourself, but you have to willingly go along for the ride.
What does that mean? It means you need to show up to every appointment with the following commitments:
Open Mind – Your therapist won’t just tell you what you want to hear, and they may provide insights that you aren’t expecting. Stay open to the process.
Open Ears – Listening is just as important as talking in a counseling session. Give your therapist the opportunity to respond to what you’re saying. It’s not a one-way conversation.
Open Mouth – You must participate if you want to see results from individual talk therapy. Speak with honesty, even when that hurts or may feel embarrassing.
Follow Through Between Sessions
Some of the most rewarding work is done between counseling sessions. It’s in the days following an emotional session that you really absorb what your therapist said. You may also have exercises or assignments to complete based on your current goals and level of growth. The more time you spend following through on what you learned in a session, the more growth you will enjoy.
To connect with a skilled therapist in your area, contact A Caring Approach today. We want to see you reach your goals and experience real growth.