Here are the best things to do when you go to therapy!
If you decide that you want to start this journey, then you need to know a few things to do when you go to therapy. First of all, deciding that you are ready to go to therapy is a big step, and it is a good decision that will help you discover more about yourself.
But remember that therapy is an instrument that supports your mental health, and getting this support is not always the easiest thing to do. It will support you in getting over and easing the thoughts and feelings that surround you, and it will be there for you when you want to learn how to leave behind maladaptive and unhealthy behaviors.
So, if you have already decided that therapy is what you are looking for, you probably want to get the most out of each session, right? After all, therapy can be quite expensive. Read on and learn some things to do when you go to therapy in order to make the most out of the whole process.
1. Let yourself be vulnerable
One of the things to do when you go to therapy is to know that this is a situation that will most likely put you in a vulnerable position more than once. It is amazing that you have decided to take this journey, but once you enter through the doors of the office, you need to be open about everything you will discuss with your therapist.
If you want to get the most out of your sessions, being honest and vulnerable is the first thing that you can do. This will make the therapy sessions and the therapeutic relationship deeper, and in the end, you will be the one who gets the advantages of this.
When the level of work becomes deeper and you are open to your therapist, you will be able to manage the mental health challenges better. You need to be sincere about your feelings and meaningful and impactful events in your life, and you also need to bring up any previous therapy experiences.
2. Your expectations should be realistic
Of all the things to do when you go to therapy, keeping realistic expectations might be among the most important. We know that once you take this step, you are on your way to becoming better, but things take time, and sometimes there are instances when therapy can’t help alone.
For example, some conditions, such as severe depression and anxiety, might require medication, and in this case, therapy helps but can’t make you feel better by itself.
The best thing to do is to have patience and be gentle with yourself. The therapeutic process can take a while before you start feeling better, but you need to always trust the process. This is why you should have realistic expectations.
Look at the therapeutic process as if it were a new skill you were trying to learn. It takes time, and many times it begins with small steps. In time, the steps will become much bigger and more noticeable. But in the end, the journey is as important as the end goal, and you should let yourself experience everything that the journey brings you.
3. Find a therapist that is suitable for you
Many people conclude that therapy is useless and that it does not help them at all because they choose the wrong therapist. But this doesn’t mean that there is no more hope for you or that the therapist you choose is not doing a good job.
There are some things to do when you go to therapy, and one of them is to find a professional you can connect with. And believe us when we say that this can be a real challenge for some people. It is pretty hard to find the best therapist on the first try. Most folks will need to explore a little bit before they find the person that they will connect with immediately.
And many times, it is not even about connecting as soon as you enter the office. This bond needs time to develop, and it is called a therapeutic relationship. You need to find a therapist you feel comfortable talking to, and from here, you can start building this relationship and see where it goes.
4. Give yourself some time and nurture
Both of them are some of the most important things to do when you go to therapy. Going to therapy can change your life, but you need to give yourself time for that to happen. What big changes happened overnight?
Therapy is not a walk in the park, and you should expect that some sessions will leave you feeling emotional. When you become able to see your blind spots that you were never aware of, you might start to feel a heavy burden. Becoming better means putting in a lot of work, but it will all be worth it in the end.
Since therapy can affect you, one of the things to do when you go to therapy is to nurture yourself. It is ok to feel like that when you are starting to acknowledge various things about yourself and your life.
Always be gentle with yourself, and give yourself time after each session to process everything that has been discussed. Care about yourself at an emotional level or try to do something you enjoy doing when these feelings become overwhelming.
5. Set goals and be true to yourself
You need to effectively communicate with your therapist, and this means you should know what brings you to therapy. This is why one of the things to do when you go to therapy is to set a goal for yourself. Why do you want to embark on this journey? This is a question you should be able to answer.
The therapist will be there to help you get the insights that you need and also help you set your goal for where you want to be working, but you also need to know why you are in their office and what you want to work on.
One smart trick that might help you with that is to make lists. Yes, make a list of the themes and topics you want to work on during each session. In this way, you make sure you will not get lost and that you will be able to make real progress towards your goal.
Also, if your therapist will give you “homework,” it is a good idea to follow their instructions. This method will help you acquire the skills that you need, and it will prove useful in the long run.
As you can see, there are a few things to do when you go to therapy, and it is a good idea to be aware of them beforehand, as this can help you through the therapeutic process. You don’t have to be alone when you are struggling with negative thoughts and challenging scenarios, and this is where therapy can help you. Most people have the resources they need to overcome obstacles, but they don’t know how to access them.
If you have any other things to do when you go to therapy that we have not mentioned in the article, you can be open and share them with us in the comments!
One way to help yourself and learn how to set goals is by journaling. If you need a notebook for your daily journal, this one is a great choice: PAPERAGE Lined Journal Notebook, 160 Pages
You should also read: 5 Problems Not Even Therapy Can Solve for You
