For the everyday individual, the past few years have seen professional therapy coming leagues ahead in terms of recognition and familiarity. The stigma that was once associated with mental health is slowly fading away, and people are more open to seeking the help of a professional therapist for a variety of issues that hold them back from progressing in their lives.
With that being said, going for professional therapy still brings about a certain feeling of nervousness. This is because reaching out to someone to seek help for your issues is never easy. What adds to this sense of unease is the “fear of the unknown” that is usually at play many settings. In order to help you understand what can you expect out of professional therapy in St. Paul, here’s a general description of what your initial therapy session may look like.
What Your Professional Therapy Session May Look Like
Introduction
This would be an ice breaker of sorts. After discussing schedule, consent form and other matters such as payment terms, your therapist may tell you about their qualifications and a few choice facts about their personal life. In return, you will need to reach out and not only tell them about yourself but also the reason why you are at their office. Since acceptance is the first step to resolution, speaking of any issues that you are facing would help you determine that the session is very real and that you are there to seek some help.
Questions and Answers
Here’s where you would see actual professional therapy in action. After exchanging niceties, your therapist would most likely ask a series of questions to help understand you and your problem better. Answering the questions as honestly as possible is the key to recovery, so make sure to not hold back on any information and answer the questions to the best of your ability.
Feedback in Play
While in a therapy session, it is better to let go of some of your inhibitions and let your thoughts flow freely. This is even more important when you are in your first session of professional therapy where your therapist is trying to get to know you. Make sure to feel free to express yourself and to talk on your own. Tell your therapist about the different thoughts that come to your mind. It would ultimately help them understand you better. At the end of the session, your therapist will summarize the session for you, and provide you with a schedule on how many times in a month do you need to see them.
Makes Sure to Discuss Any Pressing Questions
Sometimes, we hold back from discussing our darkest fears or our most dreadful thoughts to even those that we love. That is why it makes sense if you may be feeling hesitant in discussing something or answering one of the therapist’s questions. But that is where you need to tell them if you feel comfortable discussing a topic or not. This would help them to understand your limits and help them to determine a course of action for your treatment.
Seek Help from a Licensed Individual Today
As a certified therapist, Ben Wolf, MSW, LICSW, loves to help introduce how professional therapy works and how it could be beneficial for you. With expertise and experience in tackling individual, couple, family and trauma therapy, Ben Wolf can help you find an answer to your problems. Ben Wolf can also help in assisting you in other ways, such as relieving any stress that you may be feeling towards your therapy. If you or a loved one is in need of therapy but also require guidance in what to expect, then don’t hesitate from reaching out to Ben Wolf today.
