If you’re new to therapy, the idea of a therapy session might feel a little overwhelming or even scary – what’s going to happen? Am I going to be forced to share things? Am I going to be told what’s wrong with me?
I want to give you an idea of what a session with me will feel like. To begin with, it’s basically a conversation. Just the two of us talking. And we can talk about whatever you like, at whatever pace you’d like. We can take our time to get to know each other, and whenever you’d like, you can share about your challenges. I’m going to follow your lead, and I can also ask questions to help get you started.
You’ll have room to vent. Often when people come to therapy, they’ve got a lot of stuff pent up. So, yeah, you can let it all out.
As you share about what’s going on, I’ll be listening very carefully. I’m listening with compassion – I’m on your side. I’m listening in order to understand what you’re going through and what it’s like to be you.
I’ll reflect back what I hear you saying – so that you know you’re being heard. I may also ask you questions to clarify things or to help us go deeper. For example, you might be talking about your job, and I might say, “I noticed you rolled your eyes as you mentioned that co-worker. I wonder if you feel some kind of way about them?” Or, “You mentioned feeling like you’re in a bubble. Can you say more? What’s that bubble like?”
I’m going to help you use your mind-body connection. I may invite you to notice what’s going on inside your body as we talk. Sometimes people notice a strong sensation – like tightness in the chest, or stomach is heavy – and I’ll help you explore that. Our bodies are really amazing at helping us understand our feelings and our needs.
Speaking of feelings (emotions), as we get into stuff, you may start to have them. I’m going to help you notice your emotions. I’m going to support you and be with you as you “ride the wave” of big feelings. It can feel disorienting at first, but in my experience getting our feelings out brings great relief and insight.
In all of this, I’m making sure to go at your pace, so that you can explore difficult issues without pressure, in a way that works for you.
