What to Expect in Therapy
Despite therapy becoming increasingly depicted in media and popular culture, most people are unsure exactly what to expect in therapy. The first counseling session can feel intimidating; like going on a date, but one where the strange new person you’re meeting is not only the therapist but also yourself. The therapeutic relationship has unique boundaries and standards of privacy to ensure it is a space where we can discuss subjects that are often too difficult to explore in other relationships. In therapy, you’re encouraged to explore thoughts usually kept buried away and ask questions you otherwise feel unable to ask.
First Therapy Session
Anytime someone new enters therapy, we have a short discussion about confidentiality in therapy. Having established the standards of privacy that makes the therapeutic container unique, we move on to primary issues. We discuss what brought you into therapy and what you hope to be different as a result of therapy. Some come to therapy as a result of a crisis, like a major argument with a spouse or a life event not going as planned. But many seek help after recognizing they are stuck in a pattern they wish to change.
What You Hope to Get Out of Therapy
I have years of experience in helping people through psychotherapy, and I have found that there are three primary reasons that drive people to seek treatment:
You want a sense of support; you seek a space where it’s safe to explore your daily stressors and feelings with someone who understands.
You want practical tools and solutions to cope with specific problems, such as depression, anxiety, self-esteem, relationships, and more.
You want to better understand how your past has impacted you. You might feel stuck in specific issues that happened when you were younger, and you’d like to learn how to reconcile them.
These describe the primary therapeutic modalities I employ and I find that most clients need each of them at different times.
Life and relationships can be stressful, and sometimes it helps to have someone you can trust to listen to you and offer helpful advice. You may not know exactly what you want, but you know you want to feel differently about your life.
Working together, we can get to a different place than we are able to achieve on our own. Whether this is your first experience or you are continuing a long-term engagement with therapy, I am excited to join you.
Reach Out to Get Started
At Erik Anderson Therapy, I seek to help you identify and take practical steps to get where you want to go in life. Having a first counseling session is a great place to start making changes. Call or email today for a free consultation so we can talk more about what to expect in therapy.