Help What To Expect From Therapy?

[MidnightTrains]

So I signed up for counseling at my school and my first session is on Tuesday next week.

Kinda nervous... I don't know what to expect or how to prepare. If that's even necessary.
Have you found that it actually helps?

What kind of questions do they ask? Do they lead the conversation or is it on me to talk? I'm very reserved unless I'm specifically asked something.
I was very vague in the consultation and I obviously said no when they asked if I was suicidal.
I don't wanna say too much or too little.

I know I'm overthinking this lol
I just need advice and some reassurance maybe.

 

[wishingonstars]

All of that depends so much on the individual therapist and type of therapy. The first session they will lead the conversation and will likely either ask you or have you fill out forms to test for depression and anything else they might think you have.

I would say as far as preparation the only thing for the first session is I would ask what types of therapy they are trained in and then do a little research on the types so you have an idea what your options are (or message me as I have tried them all and am happy to answer questions)

For following sessions you don't have to prepare at all but it might be helpful to write down what topics you would like to work through during a session, but that's not helpful for everyone.

It'll be okay, if you don't like the therapist you don't have to go back. Taking the time to find someone good is really worth it. Also I would sort of test the waters a little to get an idea of how the therapist reacts to things but a good therapist you should be able to tell you are suicidal and they won't freak out. A school therapist might but I would try to be honest about things like self harm and maybe just say you aren't suicidal but want to just stop existing sometimes or something similar.

Today I told my therapist the only thing keeping me from killing myself was not having a reliable method available and she said that we could work with that, she is fantastic and always in my corner and does not freak out about suicidal ideation or self harm. She even said once that if she didn't think I could get better she wouldn't try to stop me from going (I forget the exact wording but along those lines) but she thinks I can and honestly she's the only person I would believe that from because she gets my pain. Which is all just to say there are some really amazing therapists out there if you look :)

 

[sanctionedusage]

a lot of bullshit from someone who grew up thinking of themselves as empathetic, a good person, "a healer," or otherwise sanctimonious without any personal experience in what you're about to tell them and no training that amounts to higher than what google's mental help popup could tell you.

self therapy is much better.

 

[Hollowman]

A whole lot of bs.

 

[Pluto]

 

[gottacheckout]

Therapy involves 2 (or more) people, rarely is the issue only with one of them. Often it is just a poor match. I know there are some bad therapists out there but there are also people that don't want to get better.

Fwiw I was the latter, I pushed back so hard I couldn't even hear what they were saying. Hey I'm just acknowledging and owning my problems.