3 Tips For Seeing A Therapist For The First Time

Posted on: 25 May 2022

Therapy is an incredibly useful tool for many people. Seeing a skilled therapist can help you process difficult moments from your past, provide support for any current difficulties, help you learn better-coping skills, and even reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Seeing a therapist for the first time can be a bit stressful, but it doesn't need to be. Simply follow these tips to make your first time with a new therapist as pleasant and useful as possible:

Get Clear on Your Budget and Insurance

Before looking for a therapist, take a look at your insurance benefits as well as your budget. Many health insurance plans cover therapy but they will likely only pay for therapists who are in-network. Paying out of pocket will give you more options, but you will need to work it into your monthly budget. Most therapists charge an average of $100-200 per session.

Ask for a Free Phone Consultation

Most therapists offer free phone consultations for new clients. This is really helpful because you can see if a therapist feels like a good fit without driving to their office or paying for their time. You may decide the first therapist you talk to feels like a great option, or you may want to have consultations with multiple therapists and then choose the one you like best.

During a phone consultation, your therapist will ask you questions to determine how to best help you. They will also tell you about their unique approach and give you a chance to ask any questions.

Have a List of Issues You'd Like to Address

Therapy can often cover a variety of issues, but it's helpful to know ahead of time what you'd most like to focus on. For example, you may want to focus on healing from traumatic events in your past or learn coping skills for anxiety. In other cases, you may want to learn better relationship or dating skills, or how to communicate your needs better.

Therapy is also helpful for very specific concerns, such as personality disorders, PTSD, or substance abuse. In those cases, be sure to look for a therapist who has specialized expertise in your area of concern.

By following these tips and choosing the right therapist, you will be doing something great for your mental and emotional wellbeing.

For more information, contact a therapist in your area to see if therapy is something you'd like to try.  

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Getting The Help I Needed

After spending my entire life suffering with almost debilitating anxiety, I realized it might be time to see the doctor. I was medicated almost immediately, but my doctors explained that a few pills might not be enough. They enrolled me in counseling, and I started working with a therapist the next day. It was amazing the difference that it made. My counselor took the time to help me through my problems, and within a few weeks I felt at peace. My blog is all about the benefits of counseling, so that you can experience the life-changing results of this much-needed therapy.

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