Anyone going through a challenging time or facing a trauma should think about therapy. If you have booked your first therapy session, know that you have taken the first necessary step towards bettering your mental health. If you have never seen a therapist or met a counselor, you must be nervous. Not knowing what to expect or how the process will work is nerve-wracking.
It is intimidating; even though you know it will work for you and help you heal, you cannot stop feeling overwhelmed. Isn’t it? Whether taking therapy in person or online, knowing what to expect can help you prepare better and feel less nervous. Having a sense of what therapy is about and how it will benefit you can make you excited about your healing process.
This blog talks about what one can expect when going for your first online therapy session.
Your first online counseling session will be all about you and the therapist getting to know each other. Your therapist will ask you deep questions, encouraging you to talk about the issues you are facing. The therapist will get the feel of the issues you are facing and what your thought patterns are like. Once she gets a bit of assessment done, the counselor will talk to you about your symptoms; she might or might not diagnose you with something in the first session. But she will talk about the different treatment options you have, including CBT, medication, or a combination of both.
The first online session also sets the expectations you have for each other. The mutual goals you want to achieve. This will include a discussion regarding how many sessions to have in a month, their duration, and frequency. Since it is an online session, you can also discuss doing audio therapy with your therapist when video sessions are not possible. Also, the therapist will tell you what you can expect from the session and what she expects from you.
To ensure your first therapy session is successful, you need to make some preparations as well. For instance, the first thing you need is a quiet place where you can talk to your therapist without any distractions. Then, you must ensure your phone or laptop and internet connections are working well to ensure the session goes uninterrupted. Lastly, also figure out what you want to talk about with your therapist because that can help you both figure out a treatment plan like CBT to get better.
The first session is all about the therapist getting to know you and understanding the issues you are facing. They will ask you open-ended questions like, ‘Why are you taking therapy?’ or ‘What are you feeling?’
These questions encourage you to introspect and get to the bottom of your feelings. For instance, if you are angry at a situation, most likely, it is stemming from a place of grief. Understanding your emotions by sharing your thoughts and stories helps. But remember, it is just the first session. You do not have to discuss your entire life story in one session. It will take time to build trust, and that is important.
If you have any questions or concerns about the sessions or the treatment approach your therapist is taking, ask. It can be about cancellation policies, how to reschedule an online session, and what treatment methods the therapist will use.
As the therapist wraps your first session, she will list some key points to recap the session. She will also ask you to do ‘homework’ like keeping a journal.
As the session ends, it is likely that you will have mixed feelings. But it is okay to have them. Engage in activities that make you feel better and stay positive for your next session.
Taking therapy is the right move if you want to get to know yourself better and let go of the trauma or a sad past. Or if you want to learn to deal with anxiety without it affecting your daily life. So, do not be nervous and use these tips for your first online therapy session. Moreover, if you do not find the first session great or you think the therapist is unable to understand your perspective, know that you can always go for another therapist.
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