Are you starting therapy? Well, congratulations because you have taken the first step towards bettering yourself and your mental health. If you are taking your first therapy session, feeling nervous or anxious about this is normal. People who have been taking therapy for a long will admit that they feel a small amount of anxiety prior to each session they take. This is normal because you are about to talk about deep issues you are feeling with someone whom you do not know at all. Discussing personal issues with someone who is just another stranger is obviously not an easy thing to do. But going for therapy shows you are strong enough to take a step towards your betterment. But it is understandable that you might fear starting therapy. So, here are some steps you can take to overcome this fear.
Tips to help you take your first therapy session without overwhelming fear
Finding the right therapist
The most crucial step is to find the right therapist. Try consulting Australia’s most trusted counselors, as they already have a great deal of experience in the field. Choose the therapist that matches your expectations, and you should be comfortable with them to get positive results out of therapy.
Understanding your fear
Firstly, understand why you are fearing therapy. Therapists are there to help you become better. However, the misconception around therapy, societal judgment, and insecurities you might have often lead to fear. People seeking therapy are worried about being judged or misunderstood. At the same time, some others feel overwhelmed by the fact that they will be talking about their problems to a stranger. If you come from a culture where mental health topics are taboo, like Asia, this fear can be worse.
Also, many people think that therapy is only for serious issues, contributing to hesitation. But whether it is anxiety or depression or daily stress or PTSD or a trauma that you are trying to forget, remember therapy is for everything.
Fear of what the therapist will think
A lot of the time, people have a fear of what their therapist will think. They think that going to therapy is for the weak-minded, and if they are going to therapy, it will make them appear crazy. Also, people fear what the therapist will say after hearing their thoughts or life experiences. Maybe they will silently judge you. Well, they will not. Therapists are trained to be neutral towards their patients. They do not just listen; they observe, and they help you realize where you are making mistakes or where your feelings are right. They help you derive a coping mechanism that can help you recover.
Read about therapy
Go online and find reliable sources to know all about therapy and how therapists can help a person feel better. Reading more about anxiety and what to expect from your first session is one of the best ways to reduce your anxiety about taking your first session.
Moreover, you can talk to any other person who has undergone therapy and get guidance from them.
Do not fear change and hope
Sometimes, you are stuck in a relationship or job because you fear change. The same routine gives you comfort; being around a person, even though they are hurting you, is familiar. All this can change when you start therapy. This is the reason so many people avoid therapy because they fear change. Also, some people hope for these changes but fear that therapy might disappoint them.
Well, change is inevitable, and your therapist will take slow and steady steps for you to grow and change situations that are not working for you. Also, having hope and faith that therapy will work is something to have. But it also requires you to put in work; it is a 50-50 partnership, so be ready to do your work wholeheartedly.
Take support from trusted people
If you are worried about your decision to take therapy, it is a good idea to talk to a few trusted people like friends and close family members. Get support from them, and you will feel less isolated about taking therapy or the whole process.
Conclusion
Therapy or counseling is one of the best approaches to understanding yourself or healing past trauma. There are so many people who suffer in silence due to their fear of therapy or fear of talking to a stranger. But if you go through these tips to find a legitimate therapist, amongst other things, you will find your anxiety going away. Remember, medication for anxiety or depression alone cannot heal you; you also need to make positive changes to your life, and therapy is the best way to change your mindset.
Thank you for reading.
