How To Start Therapy: A Guide for the First Time Client

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HOW TO START THERAPY:GUIDE FOR THE FIRST TIME CLIENT.

MAY 22, 2018 | KAMAYLA PERRY, MFT INTERN



If you started reading this article with the hope that it would provide you with an exact play-by-play of what to do as a first-time therapy attendee, then I am sorry to inform you that you may be disappointed. There will not be any fancy instructions with nice medical terminology explaining to you what exactly to expect in therapy or how exactly you should prepare.

I say this because, as you may or may not know, every person in the world is different. Everyone experiences new things in different ways. Additionally, not all therapists are the same. This makes it impossible for me to outline how your experience may unfold. I cannot predict how your therapist will behave, what outfit you should wear to the session, or whether or not the weather will be nice that day. Your entire experience is solely that: your experience. As you step in to the therapy room, you and your therapist will create your therapeutic experience together

What I can give you, however, is an idea about some of the things you may want to consider when deciding whether or not therapy may be a good fit for you.

The questions below are intended to help you begin thinking about ways in which therapy may be a good place to begin processing certain thoughts and feelings.

  •       WHY DO YOU WANT TO ATTEND THERAPY?
  •       WHAT MAKES YOU HESITANT TO ATTEND THERAPY?
  •       DO YOU FEEL READY TO ATTEND THERAPY?
  •       WHAT BIASES DO YOU HAVE ABOUT THERAPY? WHERE DID THOSE BIASES COME FROM?
  •       ARE YOU WILLING AND OPEN TO TRY SOMETHING NEW?
  •       WOULD THERAPY BE SOMETHING YOU ARE DOING FOR YOURSELF? SOMEONE ELSE?
  •       ARE YOU WILLING TO BE OPEN WITH A STRANGER?
  •       WHY DID YOU TAKE THE TIME TO READ THIS BLOG AND THESE QUESTIONS?
  •       HOW DO YOU FEEL AFTER ANSWERING THESE QUESTIONS?


Despite whether your answers contained a large amount of “YES”s or “NO”s, the therapy room is an open space for you to discuss your thoughts and some of the reasons you answered these questions in the way that you did.

It is okay to feel uncomfortable and nervous about attending therapy, but remember that choice is always yours to make.

You decide when you are ready. You decide when you want to talk.

Warm regards,
Kamayla Perry, MFT Intern Class of 2018




For more information about FamilyWorks, visit their website at:

https://www.valdosta.edu/colleges/education/marriage-family-therapy/familyworks



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