When you take your car to the mechanic…
You know you are going to get your car fixed right? You know what to expect. We get asked a lot: What is Therapy like? What can I expect?
These are great questions! Let me try to answer some of these for you…
The first session with a new Therapist is always a little bit scary and there is some uncertainty. This is completely normal. Your therapist will introduce themselves and share their experience. They may ask you the same and the review why you are seeking therapy. This is all part of the rapport building process and determining if this is the right fit for you! The success of therapy is critical to a good match between you and the Therapist. It is ideal if both of you can relate to one another as this helps to form an open and trusting therapeutic relationship that allows healing to begin.
What happens next? If you determine that this is the best fit for you, your therapist typically asks you to share what’s been going on in your life, what’s on your mind, what’s bothering you, and what your goals for therapy are. This is a safe place for your share your thoughts and feelings in a confidential way. Your therapist will actively listen and may or may not take notes. They will usually tell you if they do before a session or when introduce their therapy style. You can share without feeling like you will be criticized, interrupted or judged as you speak. This conversation is a time for you to share exactly what you feel—total honesty—without worrying that you’re going to hurt someone’s feelings, damage a relationship, or be penalized in any way. Anything you want to say or discuss is OK.
Some therapists may teach you a new skills during a session and give you some “homework” to complete after a session. During your next session, you might share your progress and address any areas where you got frustrated, stuck, or had success!
Of course, every therapist is different, every client is unique, and every therapist-client relationship is distinct as well—which means that there is no universal description of a therapy session. Some therapists employ dream interpretation in their work. Others bring music or art therapy into their work. Others incorporate hypnotherapy, life coaching, meditation, visualization, or role-playing exercises to “rehearse” challenging conversations. The list goes on and on. Ultimately, regardless of their approach, a therapist will listen without judgment and help clients try to find solutions to the challenges they face.
