On Starting Therapy …

By: Jenny Glozman MA,PhD, RP, RMFT

Coming to therapy for the first time often feels nerve wracking. Some of us come to therapy after many years of contemplation and some of us come to therapy after a catalyst event. Whatever brings you to therapy, a therapists’ first job is to help make therapy comfortable and supportive. All our therapists come to therapy from this concept of the therapeutic relationship as the foundation for good therapy.

So what does attending therapy for the first time feel like?

Sometimes you might start therapy before you feel totally ready.  You might attend a few sessions and then leave – and that’s okay.  Resistance and anxiety in therapy is normal.  Many people feel nervous before their therapy sessions for some time after starting therapy. When change begins to happen and you make the big decision to attend therapy, you might feel nervous and not want to come to your appointment. Faced with sharing your thoughts and deepest emotions with a relative stranger, you might want to back out from nerves and fear! Usually if you attend the session anyways, your nerves disappear and you’re glad you went.  If you’re with the right therapist, those nerves and fear dissipate as your relationship and trust develops.

What about once I’ve been in therapy for a while?

As time goes on and you get to know your therapist, you’ll begin to experience the “real work” of therapy.  When this happens you will feel comfortable and at ease in therapy. You’ll experience seeing things from a different persective, treating yourself differently, understanding yourself and your ways of being in a new way, and understanding those around you differently as well. You’ll learn how to cope with conditions like anxiety, ocd, trauma, self-esteem, depression in new ways, and learn tools of sorts, to ameliorate symptoms. 

How long do I need to be in therapy for?

The longevity of therapy often depends on the individual and how much support they need.  Some people attend a few sessions and move on; while others remain in therapy for a year or more and return as needed.  It is important to have some number of sessions in order to establish a therapeutic relationship and rapport. Often times people attend therapy weekly to start, and then taper to every two weeks or once a month for maintenance.  Finding a therapist that you trust and form a therapeutic relationship with can be incredibly beneficial to well being, and is often a support you can leave and return to when needed throughout life.

For more help starting therapy, contact us to get matched with a therapist.