- Take inventory of your symptoms. Is it anxiety or depression? Find a therapist who specializes in your issues. Think about gender preferences also. I suggest that you talk to a potential therapist beforehand to see if it is a good fit. Most therapists offer a free initial phone conversation.
- Take ownership of your session. Plan what you want to say ahead of time. Arrive not just on time but early to reflect on what you want to accomplish in the therapy time. What do I want? What do I feel? It is helpful to jot down notes and refer to your journal. Don’t rehash everything that has happened since the last session. You want time to reflect on deeper issues.
- Don’t expect answers. The therapist’s job is to give you the tools to answer the questions yourself. A good therapist will help you understand what is going on inside your head and help you develop the tools and emotional strength to address challenges.
- Tell your therapist if you have concerns about the sessions. Speak up about things that bother you about your therapist. Address any frustrations at the beginning of the session, clear the air and move on. Don’t worry about hurting your therapist’s feelings.
- It’s all worth mentioning. Say what you are thinking or feeling no matter how random or insignificant it seems. It’s important for understanding deeper parts of you.
- Pick a good time for your session. Maybe you are a morning person and will be more talkative then. Timing can also depend on what you are doing after the session. Perhaps you will need a cool down period and time to reenter the rest of the world. Maybe you will need time to regroup and collect your feelings before reentering your normal routine.
- Ask about your progress. From the beginning, talk about the end. What are the goals? How will you know that you are making progress? If you would like to keep to a specific time frame, say 12 sessions let your therapist know upfront. You need to know that you are making progress. When you open up about your thoughts and feelings to your therapist, you know that you are making progress.
These are just a few suggestions to make your therapeutic journey more positive and rewarding. Although I don’t do therapy, I do help you set goals and benchmarks along the way. Perhaps it is an issue that will respond well to hypnosis. I can help you figure that out. Please contact me at holtadams2002@yahoo.com or call 361.442.9590.