Seeing a therapist for the first time

[Igglepiggleslittletoe]

I have a session booked to see a therapist in the next week and a bit anxious about it. I know I need to speak to someone as my anxiety is at an all time high but I just do not know where to start. Do I walk in and just open my mouth and see what comes out or will they ask me questions? Any advice would be great so I can set my mind at ease.

If you are anything like me you'll walk in and start to tell your story and then start crying and cry for the the whole session. Quite cathartic but I am not sure that is how it is supposed to go.

I personally do find speaking to counsellors and therapists stressful. I dread the build up to it. I prefer and have now been able to manage my anxiety medically and with self help CBD methods.

Good luck! Always worth trying it. It is unlikely to make your anxiety worse in the long run, and may even help.

It is not cheap which wont help the anxiety lol

I have no idea what to expect. I dont even know what is wrong with me. Do you go straight to the current feeling or start with a bad childhood or just stand there and go 'im fundamentally fucked up, please help me'?

Is it nhs? I had those. I found they didn't outline what to expect but if I asked them to then they would. They don't 'needle' out of you your innermost thoughts but let me ramble on a bit. I'm quite a waffler so would use this as distraction technique not to ralk about the real issue.

To counteract this I worked in between sessions e.g writing it down.
If they're nhs try not to set too much store by the questionnaire they give you at the beginning imo, and allow yourself plenty of time.
Good luck!

Not nhs (im in the end of Ireland that does not have NHS sadly) and it is fully paid for so I am hoping whatever we do works in some way I just have absolutely no idea how to start.

Ah well take your lead from the therapist, trust them and be open to their expertise and skill. I felt deep respect and gratitude for mine at the end.

I'd not be afraid to seek clarification onanything that's unclear or you're unsure about.

Tell her you're feeling nervous.
But yes some homework is always a good thing to do between sessions, you get out what you put in.

My counsellor kind of said right tell me why you’re here and it went from there. It’s so good to get it all off your chest. Remember that this is their job so they know what to do and how to guide you and the session.

Good luck. To me it feels like I’m paying for someone to be my lovely friend who says all the right things 😁

I have had several blocks of counselling ( anxiety related).

Almost always the first session will be just laying the ground, talking about expectations, explaining the process. Also just to meet to see if you think the therapist will be a good "fit"- crucial to make sure you feel that you can work together.
You will spend a little time giving a general outline of your situation,and time to ask questions.
Usually the first session with a new therapist means you won't go deep diving or jump straight into the heart of your feelings.
Your therapist will guide you if you are unsure or unclear- that is their job.

Take your own tissues. I’ve only seen a therapist once (over how to deal with a nasty medical shock) and of course I started crying straight away and cried for most of the hour. She didn’t have any tissues in the room!!! Every 5-10 min she’d get up, fetch a single tissue from the bathroom, and let me have it. I felt so embarrassed to have to keep asking for more, and I did not go back! I don’t think mine had been in the job for long.

Anyway they’ll probably ask why you’re there / what you want to talk about, then listen to you and occasionally ask questions. Towards the end they may make suggestions on next steps to help deal with things.

Tissues, no mascara ok taking notes here.

I am nervous but also excited as I think I have needed this for a loooooooooong long time and it will be good to start but I am thinking long term how much it is going to cost me but then I should not really be putting a price on my mental health anyway...

Remember that he/she is not the only therapist in town. The first few sessions should establish if you have a good working relationship. If it feels ‘off’ in any way, a bit ‘blah’, or just not right , it’s ok to say that you don’t want to continue working with them. It’s hard to be assertive when you are feeling vulnerable, but it’s really important that you feel growth is happening with your therapist.
Just my tuppence worth; I really need to find another therapist!

Don't worry they will prompt you with questions if you go blank. Start with why you are there. You'll find the first few sessions are more getting to know each other and just lighter in general but you will gradually progress to more intense topics.

Sorry should have updated. I have seen the therapist. We seem to gel well. He is a lovely man and I think a man is what I need rather than a female.

He asked questions, personal data etc but other stuff in between and we chatted and the entire hour went seamlessly. I did tear up, I did not cry but I will do I am sure. I have a lot of stuff going on, some of which I could pinpoint from childhood and bad attachments from then etc but some other stuff he just asked questions of which made me think too. He has set me a diary of sorts of homework for the week. Just to journal something, anything about me. He thinks I do not talk properly about myself much in any depth and that I repress a lot of things which is all true but being me I have always thought I was stronger than I am. Turns out I am at breaking point.

I also saw a holistic therapist this week. It happened quite by accident as mentioned in another post above and while the treatment was non invasive the therapist shall we say had pretty much the same things to say to me after just touching pressure points on my head that the actual therapist. This holistic therapist did remind me that I need to start to love myself before I can love anyone else and I really thought I did but I am starting to wonder have I ever healed from my past and I doubt I have. I think I have a long road ahead of me but I am happier in myself that I am now on the road to 'recovery'.

Hope all others on this thread are doing well right now x

sorry i just realised i posted about the holistic therapy in a different thread not here.