Beginning therapy is a major decision and it is common for people to feel nervous about coming. Often they do not know what to expect and this can cause anxiety.
At your first session you do not need to bring anything but yourself and any others who will be participating in therapy with you. It is a chance for you to share what your needs are and to set some goals for our time together. It will also be a time for you to ask any questions you have and to determine if therapy might be helpful for you. We will be completing some forms during this first session. Some of them are located under the “Forms” tab and you are welcome to read them ahead of time and come ready with questions, but this is not required as we will go over these forms during our session.
Therapy may involve a decent amount of talking, but I enjoy including activities as well. Games and activities tend to make sessions more fun and memorable. Even my adult clients sometimes enjoy including games in their therapy sessions. If talking is not your thing then therapy can still be helpful.
Many people find therapy to be beneficial and life changing. This is not true for everyone, and results cannot be guaranteed. Therapy can also be difficult at times. However, many clients report that they are happy they participated and that they did experience growth and change throughout the process. Some clients even report that they enjoy coming to therapy each week.
Children can gain a lot from participating in therapy. They are often capable of more than we give them credit for. Games, activities, and take-home tools often make therapy enjoyable for children. Parents can also be given tools to help their children. As a parent you can expect to be involved in your child’s therapy (unless the child is over 13 which according to Washington State law gives them the right to decide who participates).
If you have decided to try therapy then you have decided to take a step to take care of yourself and your relationships and that certainly does NOT make you bad or crazy. It is a strength to try something new and to be willing to grow and change. It is also very normal to experience strong emotions. Most people do. Trying to shut down those emotions can actually make things worse.