I’m nervous about starting therapy. Is that normal?
It’s totally normal to be nervous about starting therapy. It can be scary to share things you usually keep to yourself. You may feel awkward, embarrassed, or just unsure of what to say. The fear around that can feel overwhelming. Getting the counseling we need can be challenging. And although it’s normal to be nervous, that doesn’t make it feel great. It takes courage to continue towards getting the help you need.
Therapy is a space where you can be yourself and feel safe from judgement, including feeling nervous. Our therapists are committed to finding a way to care for your nervousness and ensure sessions are as comfortable as possible.
We’re here if you want to talk about it. Shoot us an email or schedule a free phone consult.
How do I know if one of your therapists could be the right fit for me?
Take your time to read through our website. If you sense that we could help you, you can reach out. Once we understand your needs, we will help you choose the therapist that is right for you. Or if you already have a therapist in mind, you may request them.
You can also ask us more about your therapist. You might be curious about how they have helped other people like you before or what a typical session with them is like.
It may be helpful to think of the first few sessions as trying out the waters with your therapist. During the sessions, you’ll be able to see how you feel working with your therapist. Every therapist’s approach is not going to work for everyone. What’s most important to us is that you find the right fit for you. We can explore that together.
What if I don’t want to talk about something?
If something feels overwhelming or even terrifying to discuss, that’s actually very normal. It can often feel difficult to talk about some things.
During sessions it will always be up to you if you feel ready to talk about something or not. Your therapist will be there to guide you towards discovering what feels comfortable for you to share. Working at your pace, you can look at the tough stuff once you’re ready.
You can also share with your therapist that you are nervous to open up about something and they will be able to talk about that too. Whatever is present for you. Whatever you are going through. Bring that to session and you can explore that with your therapist.
I’m scared that if I open up, my therapist will think I’m a bad person.
If you open up to your therapist, they will not think you are I’m a bad person, they will think you are courageous and human. We know this because many of our clients have had the same fear (that people would think they are a bad person).
We know that what you are going through is common through many years of working with people like you.
Opening up is scary. We are used to people dancing around the truth while you test out the waters of whether or not you can trust us. We all have our strengths and weaknesses and are simply humans trying to human.
Whatever it is you’re going through, we provide a safe space where you can feel heard and supported without judgement
Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?
Your privacy and trust are of utmost importance.
It can be concerning feeling like things you say or do in therapy could “get out.” So we want you to know that unless you disclose child abuse or there is an imminent danger to you or someone else is, your story is confidential and your time in the session is protected.
You can rest assured that you can talk about anything without fear of that information getting out.
If you have specific questions about how confidentiality works, you can ask however feels most comfortable like in an email or during your call with us or at anytime.
How long will therapy take?
You might be asking about how long therapy will take because you are currently struggling and want relief fast.
If this is true for you, we want you to know that on average, our new clients start seeing positive effects after the first a few sessions.
By that point, clients share that they feel a little more calm and hopeful that healing is possible.
The total duration of therapy varies from client to client. Some of our clients find 6-12 weeks to be enough to resolve immediate challenges and feel better prepared and hopeful for the future. While other clients feel more supported by longer term therapy.
You can work together with your therapist to find the length of time that works for you.
What can I expect during the first session?
Overall, you can think of the first session as two-way interview where you and your therapist can ask each other questions so you can begin to know each other. Your therapist will invite you to share more about yourself and you can also share what’s worked or not worked for your mental health in the past.
Some questions that your therapist may ask during a first session include:
- What brought you to therapy?
- What goals would you like to reach by going to therapy?
- What do I need to know about you to understand your current challenges?
You can ask your therapist questions as well. You might be curious about about the therapist’s experience or how future sessions work.
The most important part of a first session is that you see if you feel your therapist is a good fit for you. If you feel safe, accepted, and comfortable with your therapist, you can discuss if you’d like to meet again.
How can I get started?
Fill out the contact form to get started. Once we receive your form submission, we will call you within 24 business hours. During your call, you can share what’s going on for you and ask us any questions you may have.
Through understanding your needs we will help you choose the best therapist for you and schedule you in for your first session.
Get started by filling out the contact form today.