What to Expect at Your First Appointment
It’s not easy to decide to enter therapy, because oftentimes it requires us to be vulnerable and talk about things we may not ever talk to anyone about. Taking the leap can be overwhelming, daunting, and downright scary. You may be looking for therapy for yourself and asking, “Can anyone really understand me? What if I talk about this and it gets worse?” You may also be looking for therapy for your child, and wondering something like, “I’m so worried I’m messing this kid up. What is this therapist going to think of my parenting skills?”
These questions are real and valid. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, life stressors, or feeling burned out, you have every right to question if therapy is a good fit for you. At Become You Therapy, our goal is to create a safe, supportive space where all you have to do is be present- as you are right now. We promise to show up as ourselves, which includes being genuine and present with you. Below, I’ll highlight more about what to expect during your first session.
Getting Started
One of the perks of working with us is that all the paperwork is done online, before you ever step foot in the office. After you contact us, whether that’s by phone, email, or even requesting an appointment on our website, we will send you all the information you need to get started. All we ask is that you complete the paperwork before coming to your first appointment. If you have any problems getting the forms done, all you have to do is reach out. We will gladly help you troubleshoot any concerns.
You Set the Tone
During the first session, the focus is on you. We want to hear your story, what you’re hoping to get from counseling, and what brought you to therapy. We may not even make it through your whole story up front, and that’s okay. We just want to create a space where you feel safe enough to start sharing who you are with us. You may expect some open questions to help guide this conversation, with something like, “What do you hope to gain from this experience?”. We move however fast you want to and at the depth you want. We will only ask you questions to help guide your progress.
Defining Goals
Depending on how you want the first session to go, we may even have time to start talking about what you hope to get out of therapy. You may be thinking, “What if I don’t even know what I want? I just know I want something to be different.” No pressure from us to know what those are right now. This is a process, and together we will define how you will meet your desired outcome. Some of the things we can help you with are: reduce anxiety levels, increase positive parenting experiences, process difficult topics. The options are endless, and you get to determine what they are.
What’s Next?
After the first session, you may be feeling a lot of different emotions: relief, exhaustion, curiosity. You’ve taken a huge step! You will be healing before you know it. We may ask you a few questions at the end of your session to gauge how you’re doing. Some of them may sound like, “How did you feel sharing this with me?” or “How often would you like to see each other?” We also encourage you to take time to reflect to decide if we’re a good fit. We want you to feel safe, supported, and empowered to choose the right therapist for you.
Starting therapy may be one of the best things you ever do for yourself. Become You Therapy recognizes that it is not easy to sit with the uncomfortable feelings as you figure out if now is the right time. Take your time, show up as you are, and ask questions. When you’re ready to take the leap, reach out. We’re excited to help.
