If you have not been to mental health therapy before, it can feel scary when starting therapy, especially something that asks you to show up with vulnerability. Your therapist knows that challenging emotions can be present when beginning something new, and they are here to help you through these feelings along with all the things you are coming to therapy to talk to them about. Knowing what to expect in your therapy sessions can also help alleviate fear prior to your first session.
Confidentiality and Etiquette When Starting Therapy
Your therapist will be warm and professional and will introduce themself and go over how they handle confidentiality. They will also let you know how to reach them and what boundaries they hold around communication with clients. Your therapist might orientate you to the space and go over ways they hold space in the therapy room to help you feel safe.
Intake Questions
You will have completed intake paperwork prior to your session, but your therapist may still have follow up questions or have more information they would like to go over with you. Your therapist knows that writing words on a paper can be very different from verbally telling your story or answering questions. There is great value in reviewing this information verbally with your therapist so they have a full understanding of what brings you to therapy and how they can best help you.
Discuss Your Questions
Your therapist will leave space for you to ask questions of them. Research shows that one of the most consistent predictors of positive outcomes in therapy is the therapeutic relationship between the therapist and the client. Your therapist wants to make sure all of your questions get answered and that you feel comfortable working with them to ensure the best therapeutic fit.
What Does Goals Setting Look Like When Starting Therapy?
Your therapist will collaborate with you to determine what therapeutic goals best fit your needs. They will discuss what progress looks like and steps needed to achieve goals. Your therapist will help you notice what goals will feel most supportive for your life and these goal may follow the SMART Goal format: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Trackable.
Identify Progress
Progress looks different for everyone. It can look like big changes, but therapists often note the small bits of progress that can make a big difference over time and with consistency. Lindsey Simpson, Advanced Graduate Student, states, “In my experience, I have seen progress in the small but meaningful shifts – when someone begins to see a situation differently, finds healthier ways to cope or feels more confident advocating for what they need. Watching people recognize their own strengths and feel more empowered in their lives is especially meaningful to me.”
Bec Timmons, Advanced Graduate Student, has previously worked with individuals experiencing grief. They have found “The progress I often saw was in the little steps people take. For some, that looked like taking the time to make and eat a full meal. For others, it was being able to go out for the day. I believe celebrating those little steps is crucial in the healing process.” It’s important to remember that each individual experiences progress in their own unique way and the journey to healing is a personal one.
Are you ready to begin your healing journey at Gaithersburg Counseling Center in Gaithersburg, MD? Contact us today so we can help you find the right therapist for you.
When working with clients, Amy (she/her) uses her warm personality along with her relational approach to engage her clients in the therapeutic process. She has always strived to have a supportive, collaborative relationship with her clients, allowing for deep personal growth and healing.