What do you say when you start therapy?

Tell your therapist about all your relationships, whether that's your partner, your family, or your friends. Do you feel like you have support at home? Do you feel like you have other people to share your feelings with, or do you have difficulty opening up with others too, not just your therapist?

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What do you say at the beginning of a Counselling session?

1. Welcome/Orienting the client to the consultation session
  • This is a time to get to know one another a little bit.
  • I'm going to be asking some questions to know what's been going on for the client.
  • I'm going to be answering any questions that they have (I tell them it's ok if they don't have any)

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How do you introduce yourself in Counselling?

Before we get going today, let me explain to you a little bit about who I am and what I do. I'm the Behavioral Health Counselor for the clinic and I'm a [discipline can be mentioned here if desired; it may, however, be sufficient simply to be referred to as a counselor or consultant].

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What do you say in a counseling session?

Here are 20 things to talk about with your therapist:
  • What Prompted You to Contact a Therapist? Think about when you made the decision to search for a therapist. ...
  • Feelings About Therapy. ...
  • Previous Experiences With Therapy. ...
  • Current Relationships. ...
  • Sexuality. ...
  • Current Job/Career. ...
  • Places Where You Feel Stuck. ...
  • Creative Endeavors.

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What are 3 ways to introduce yourself?

You can use the below phrases to introduce yourself:
  1. I don't think we've met (before).
  2. I think we've already met.
  3. My name is ...
  4. I'm ...
  5. Nice to meet you; I'm ...
  6. Pleased to meet you; I'm ...
  7. Let me introduce myself; I'm ...
  8. I'd like to introduce myself; I'm ...

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How to Prepare for Your First Therapy Session

35 related questions found

What is the first question a therapist asks?

Why are you seeking therapy at this time? People go to therapy for a variety of reasons. You'll be asked to explain why you're seeking therapy to give the therapist an idea of your goals.

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What does a therapist ask you the first time?

During your first session, your therapist will ask questions to understand what you're struggling with and what brought you in to see them. You'll likely talk about some of your past (family history, traumatic experiences) and how your symptoms or feelings are manifesting today, and how long they have been showing up.

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What should you not say in a counseling session?

With that said, we're outlining some common phrases that therapists tend to hear from their clients and why they might hinder your progress.
  • “I feel like I'm talking too much.” ...
  • “I'm the worst. ...
  • “I'm sorry for my emotions.” ...
  • “I always just talk about myself.” ...
  • “I can't believe I told you that!” ...
  • “Therapy won't work for me.”

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What are red flags in a therapist?

What should therapists NOT do?
  • Behave unethically. ...
  • Take you as a client if they don't specialize in your issue. ...
  • Overshare about themselves. ...
  • Leave you feeling worse after your session – regularly. ...
  • Make you feel judged, shamed, or emotionally exposed. ...
  • Disrupt the session by divided attention. ...
  • You just don't feel “right”

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What therapists don t tell you?

10 Things Your Therapist May Not Tell You
  • We see tears every day. ...
  • We learn a lot from you. ...
  • We can't always help you. ...
  • We may do some re-parenting with you. ...
  • We are very strict about confidentiality. ...
  • We don't want to send you to a psychiatric hospital. ...
  • We don't take credit for your success.

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Is it OK to cry during counseling?

there is nothing wrong with crying in session so keep expressing your feelings however you need to. This is a safe place to be you. However you best express your genuine emotions as they come up, it is safe here.

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How do I start talking to my therapist?

To start a conversation, you can talk about your daily activities or a particular day you've had. Share something about your life to establish a connection. You can share whatever is pressing your mind at the moment, even if it is unrelated or seems insignificant.

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How do I approach therapy for the first time?

As your first appointment nears, here are some ways to mentally and physically prepare yourself:
  1. Set Goals. ...
  2. Have Realistic Expectations. ...
  3. Give Yourself Credit. ...
  4. Schedule Your First Session at a Convenient Time. ...
  5. Reserve Time for Yourself Before the Session. ...
  6. Dress for Comfort. ...
  7. Don't Be Afraid to Ask Questions. ...
  8. Be Open and Honest.

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What is your first day of therapy like?

Your first session will probably involve your therapist asking you a lot of questions about you, how you cope, and your symptoms (it's basically an interview). You may also chat about goals for therapy, expectations, and more.

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What are good therapy questions?

Some of the most common therapy questions are included below.
...
What makes the problem better?
  • How often do you experience the problem?
  • How have you been coping with the problem(s) that brought you into therapy? ...
  • What do you think caused the situation to worsen?
  • How does the problem affect how you feel about yourself?

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What questions am I allowed to ask my therapist?

You can ask anything. If you're curious, there's probably a deeper reason. Therapists do reserve the right to not answer, which goes back to Freud's idea that we should be blank slates. Of course, total objectivity is impossible—you're two people in a relationship.

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How long should therapy last?

The number of recommended sessions varies by condition and treatment type, however, the majority of psychotherapy clients report feeling better after 3 months; those with depression and anxiety experience significant improvement after short and longer time frames, 1-2 months & 3-4.

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Is therapy awkward at first?

Starting therapy can be especially awkward if you've not been in therapy before. If you feel weird at first when you're talking to your therapist, don't worry. It takes a while to get used to therapy, but you'll eventually get the hang of it.

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Why is starting therapy so hard?

It is common to have mixed feelings about starting therapy. Our instincts lead us to stay away from uncomfortable thoughts and feelings. Hesitation about beginning therapy may indicate the presence of something very important to understand about ourselves.

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What is the best way to talk to a therapist?

You will get the most out of therapy if you are open and honest with your therapist about your feelings. If you feel embarrassed or ashamed, or something is too painful to talk about, don't be afraid to tell your therapist. Slowly, you can work together to get at the issues.

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Should you tell your therapist everything?

What can I tell my therapist? The short answer is that you can tell your therapist anything – and they hope that you do. It's a good idea to share as much as possible, because that's the only way they can help you.

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What do therapists think when you cry?

Therapists usually feel more regret about "more intense crying or more frequent tears or tears that are related to their own situation," says Blume-Marcovici. Another red flag: crying every time you see someone with a particular problem.

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Can I hug my therapist?

None of the ethics boards that regulate mental health professionals specifically prohibit the use of touch or view it as unethical. There are times when your therapist may believe that it's more harmful to you not to initiate a hug. In some cases, nonsexual, therapeutic touch may be beneficial.

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What should a therapist do when you cry?

Let the client know explicitly that it's okay to cry; there's no need to hold back the tears. If offering a tissue box, it's often useful to say, “Please don't try to hold those tears back. It's absolutely okay to cry as much as you like.”

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What is inappropriate for a therapist?

Talk about things not related to why you're there. Make sexual comments or advances. Touch you inappropriately. Make plans with you outside the session that don't relate to your mental health.

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