The first step is the hardest.
You’ve probably heard that more than once. It’s especially true when you have decided to give therapy a try. Maybe it’s your first time and you don’t know what to expect or maybe you have tried before and it didn’t work out well for you.
Don’t give up.
Anxiety about that first appointment...and to be honest with you, many of the next few to come...is completely normal. You are meeting a brand new person with the expectation of letting out years of difficult issues.
Here are some things that may ease your mind as you give therapy a try.
It’s okay to be anxious.
Nerves about this first appointment, in particular, are completely understandable. We know that the chair you sit in is far more uncomfortable than the one we have. It’s not easy to trust someone you’ve never met. It’s okay. We understand and will do our very best to put you at ease.
You will not be judged.
Nothing you say will cause us to think poorly of you. I know that sounds like something people say and don’t mean but that’s not the case with us. As therapists, we know you are human. Bad things happen. Mistakes are made. Life is life. We are here to help you find your path to healing, not to judge your decisions or the decisions of those around you.
You set the pace.
This is your journey. We are merely here to help you over the bumps in the road. The first appointment is mostly about the highlights. We need to know where you came from, where you are, and where you want to go. We also have background information to collect. We don’t expect you to go too deep right away. While there may be times that we push you to go a little further, it’s never going to be more than what you’re ready for.
This is a partnership and we are in this together. Don’t let the fear of change stop you from reaching your potential. The benefits of therapy far outweigh the discomfort.
By: Brittany Neeley, LPC