Everyone is talking about therapy today; it is something that you often find on your social media page on a typical Tuesday afternoon. Therapy and counselling was something that not a lot of people knew about, even a decade ago. But the current generation is more open and accepting to the idea of therapy.
So, what is therapy? Is therapy really just two people talking together? Well yes and no. Therapy is a powerful process happening between a therapist and a client. It changes the way you see and look at the world around you. It helps to provide, a new perspective and a more refined way of thinking. We start looking at things in a whole new light. We are often overwhelmed with the daily routines and the hustle and bustle of our lives. We don’t really have the time to, stop, think, and reflect.
Therapy helps us do just that, and more. It helps us to recognize and reflect on our own experiences in our lives. This includes the good, the bad and everything in between. One of the main misconceptions of therapy is that, “oh no, I don’t have problem so I don’t need therapy”. Well, that’s not true at all; you don’t always have to have a problem in order to go to therapy. Therapy is a safe space, where you the client can express yourself. It is a place where you can go and talk about things that you don’t really get the opportunity to talk about. A safe place to vent.
The therapist is always there to support and listen to you with an empathic ear and is non-judgmental. The therapist can provide you with support and guidance on how to deal with certain areas of your life that you might find challenging. It is a place where you can reflect and find the answers that you are looking for. Therapy helps you to grow and mature and helps you have a better understanding of yourself.
The first session:
In all honesty, going in for your first session can be a little scary and you tend to be a little nervous. Not to worry that’s a completely normal reaction, which a lot of people have. Sometimes not knowing what to say and when to say it can be daunting. Keep in mind a few things that you might want to talk about, it could be anything, your job, family, a specific experience, friends etc. Personally, getting it all out in the open can help to relieve the tension.
Another point to keep in mind is to talk about your concerns when you are ready. You don’t always have to talk about the things that are hard for you, right at the beginning.
Whenever you feel you are ready to talk and open up to the therapist, go ahead. Also keep in mind, that there is contract of confidentiality that you are required to sign, so any information that is shared remains strictly confidential, between you and the therapist. Establishing trust with the therapist is an important of therapy. A therapeutic relationship is formed between you and the therapist. Therapy also leads to an increase in self-awareness. You will realise that after a therapy session, there are so many things that you have come to know about yourself. You might want to talk about these in the next session. The best way to handle this experience is journaling. Keep and maintain a separate therapy journal or notebook for yourself. After each session, make a note of all the thoughts, feelings, emotions and insights that you are currently experiencing. This is a healthy way of expressing yourself and getting it out of your system. By doing so, you feel a sense of peace, calmness and relief. Sometimes therapy does involve intense sessions, so journaling is a healthy way to process that session. But all’s well that ends well, therapy is an ongoing process, it can take a couple of months or even a few years. It all depends on you, the client how you take it and are you willing to work towards your progress?
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