Taking the first steps toward therapy sessions is the biggest challenge. The time before the therapy is a tough battle between the body and the mind. It’s the time when a person needs the most push and support. But, as they say, nothing is possible when people have the will to walk on the way.
A person’s first meeting with their mental health coach can be a rollercoaster of ifs and buts. The only way to come out of this hurdle is by taking steps to help an individual prepare for a better and more helpful first session with the coach. The steps are simple, and while trying to do these, everyone should remember that the most difficult sails become easy and comfortable with practice and consistency.
8 Tips To Prepare For The First Therapy Session
Here are 8 tips that can help an individual better prepare while going for their first therapy.
1. Set Clear Expectations
The first tip for preparation before meeting a mental health coach is to set clear expectations for the meeting. Try and be realistic instead of expecting miracles at the moment after stepping out of the discussion room. Progress in therapy is slow but not impossible. So, it is better to have a clear vision and expectations. Set them straight since the first meeting to get the desired outcomes with time. Also, it is better to talk it out regarding these expectations with the mental health coach.
2. Mental Preparation Before The Session
There are chances that people tend to decide and go for therapy out of various internal and external factors. However, one of the essentials before sitting for the first session with any mental coach is mental preparation. If a person looking for professional help lacks the mental intent to seek the same, things can go wrong. It is important to have the right perception for therapy. So, it is better to begin meditation and physical exercises some days before the therapy day. Also, people can begin implying positive reinforcement in their lives to have a better outlook on the talk they are going to have with their therapist.
3. Know What To Seek From The Session
People decide to go for therapy for a variety of reasons. It is right because everyone will need it in different situations and circumstances. But, what people are likely to miss out on is knowing what they seek from the session. It is important because, without it, it will become difficult to take a proper course of the session and converse with the mental health coach. While preparing for the session, it is important to give these things a thought. Better clarity about the session leads to an easier conversation with the therapist than a forced one. Also, it is a good way to check with the therapist whether he has to offer what a person is looking for or not.
4. Take the Credit
Life’s journey is wide, and people should take credit for their efforts and progress more than the world tells them to. Deciding to go for therapy is a big step, and everyone who chooses this path deserves an appreciative pat on the back. Planning therapy sessions makes people use every ounce of courage in their bodies. And, it is not every day that people take this step and decide unknown people like therapists enter their inner world of thoughts and feelings. Let the questions unfold and treat the therapy session like an empty teacup. Fill it with anything and everything that anyone feels like.
5. Be Open To Queries And Questions
Questions and queries should never be one-way traffic. The first therapy session is full of self-doubt that can create various questions in the head of the one seeking it. So, both the mental health coach and the person seeking the therapy should be open to the enormous amount of questions. It helps break the ice of discomfort and builds trust to exchange help and solutions through therapy sessions.
6. Don’t Ignore The Discomforts
However, in the pretext of answering all questions, don’t touch on topics that bring discomfort. Many people won’t be very comfortable with certain topics or questions as a therapy seeker. There are two options – either politely deny answering those questions, or if it gets over the top, it is better to draw the line there and then. Also, if it continues in the sessions to come, try looking for alternate options. Therapy is for improving one’s mental well-being and not adding to the misery of any individual by bringing back old and painful topics during discussions.
7. Work On Physical Outlook
Physical outlook is important when people are approaching mental health coaches for therapy and counseling sessions. So, while preparing for the first therapy session, it is important to work on one’s physical outlook. Physical outlook does not mean having the best makeup on. It means having a comfortable attire that describes one’s thoughts and ideas as a person. Everyone has their style, and it is important to carry the same confidently.
8. Leave Doubts And Judgements Behind
It’s a wide world, and no one knows who is seeking therapy, how, and when. Also, it is normal to prioritize one’s mental well-being in the long run. There might be chances that people bang into each other while reaching out to therapists. Everyone has their struggle, and it’s better to put the doubts and judgments behind after deciding to seek therapy for betterment and improvement. Everyone deserves physical, emotional, and mental wellness. So, everyone can take steps towards the same.
Conclusion
Mental wellness should be a priority. Everyone who takes mental health seriously and decides to take therapy should be proud of the progress because it is not every day that people take this bold step. So, remember that during the therapy journey for mental wellbeing, no one is alone, and no one should feel alone. If people are brave enough to accept their mental health needs and take steps towards its betterment, they are brave enough to brace it!
