Three Ways to Relieve Anxiety About Therapy
It is not uncommon to feel anxiety before your first therapy session. Deciding to seek the help of a therapist is a massive step toward mental health improvement. It signifies that you are ready to make meaningful choices toward improving your situation. While attending therapy benefits your mental health, you don't have to be completely comfortable with the process. The first time seeing a therapist can initiate anxiety towards attending therapy, especially when you don't have prior experience working with a therapist. It is important to note that feelings like this are very normal. Your anxiety about attending therapy does not always disappear, even when you have agreed to attend.
You may feel uncomfortable with your initial interactions. After all, you are likely to share information about your struggles and basic information about your life. A therapist will talk to you about your background, romantic relationships, close friends, career, family, and more. Revealing all this personal information to someone you don't know is challenging. Many people fear whether they will like their provider before their first session. They fear going through the process all over again if they don't. While therapy is a great way to improve and manage your mental health, it's no surprise that individuals are anxious about it. Our counselors in Richmond, VA, provide the following tips to help reduce your anxiety towards the first therapy session:
Be proud of yourself.
As mentioned earlier, the decision to attend therapy is a significant step. You accept that you have mental health struggles and are prepared to make a substantial effort toward improving your situation. Meeting with a therapist and discussing personal details takes courage. While your brain may keep focusing on questions about your initial visit, it is essential to take a moment and appreciate the critical first step you took.
Be honest
Revealing personal details about your life to a stranger will often cause nervousness. However, if you are not open and honest with your provider, you waste your time and your therapists. Remember that if you cannot be forthcoming, your therapy provider may suggest inappropriate treatment or misdiagnose you. You might even convince them that you do not need treatment when that is not the case. Therefore, never try to sugarcoat your behaviors or how you're feeling. It is important to remember that your therapist has no judgment towards you, and a therapy environment is a safe place. It can also be helpful to be upfront with them about your anxiety. This can often break the ice and help make future sessions easier.
Have realistic expectations
Therapy is not a magic cure, although it is undoubtedly helpful for individuals to manage their mental health better. If you enter your first few therapy sessions expecting your problems to be immediately fixed, you will likely be disappointed. Therefore, setting reasonable goals for what you hope to get from the sessions is critical. When creating these goals, make an effort to be specific about what you expect to receive from therapy, like dealing with substance abuse, improving family relationships, avoiding dating the wrong people, or drinking less. Setting specific goals will help you have reasonable expectations and fully understand that it is a process that can take excessive work and time. Remember that therapists are still human. Even though they are trained professionals, they are not equipped with every answer. However, they are in place to help you navigate your feelings and emotions. Therapy is a partnership that requires effort from you and your therapist.