How Therapy works
Starting therapy can feel like a big step. Whether you've never been before, or you've had therapy that didn't feel quite right, it's natural to wonder what actually happens in the room and how talking can make a difference.
Feeling nervous is normal
Most people arrive at their first session feeling a bit nervous, and that makes complete sense. You're sitting down with someone you don't know yet and talking about things that matter to you. In my experience, those nerves usually settle quite quickly once we get talking.
What happens in the first session
Everyone I work with, whether individuals or couples, starts with an intake session. We'll begin with some practical questions, then move on to what you'd like to get from therapy, and I'll ask a little about your history and childhood. I take notes during this session so I can hold on to what you've shared.
I'll also ask whether you've had therapy before, and what you did and didn't like about it. This isn't a test. It helps us both work out whether we're a good fit. If something that didn't work for you before is part of how I work, it's much better that we know early on.
Why not just talk to a friend?
Friends are important, but therapy offers something different. A therapist is a trained professional who doesn't come with their own ideas about how you "should" be living your life. Conversations with friends are shared, with both people giving and taking. In therapy, the time is entirely yours, with my full attention on you. I can also offer practical tools and ways of understanding things that friends might not know about.
Therapy is also time set aside each week just for you. Many of us spend so much of life feeling we have to be strong, cope and keep going. Therapy is a space where you can put that down for a while.
Where the healing happens
Many of the patterns we carry come from how the people around us responded when we were young. In therapy, you have someone who sees and witnesses what you've been through, and who responds differently from the way you experienced growing up. Over time, that different kind of response can be deeply healing.
Taking the first step
If you're thinking about therapy, or thinking about trying again, you're welcome to get in touch. We can have a chat about what you're looking for and whether working together feels right for you.