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I’m nervous about starting therapy. Is that normal?

 

 

Therapy can be vulnerable and new, so it is natural to be nervous. It can be scary to think of opening up or crying in front of someone new, perhaps feeling anxious that it will be awkward and uncomfortable.

 

The anxiety around that can feel overwhelming. Going to therapy when you are nervous is not easy. It may take courage to take those steps. Reading this now shows that you are already stepping in the right direction.

Therapy is a space where you can be yourself and come just as you are, including feeling nervous.

 

I am committed to finding a way to care for your nervousness and ensure sessions are as comfortable as possible.

I am here if you want to talk about it during our first session.

 

 

How do I know if you are the right therapist for me?

 

 

Take your time to read through my website. If you sense that I may be a good fit for you based on what you are reading, you can e-mail me.

 

During our first session, you can ask me about how I have helped other people like you before, or any other questions you may have that are specific-to-you. You will also be able to share what is going on with you and I will let you know how I can help.

 

It may be helpful to think of the first few sessions as trying out the waters together. During these sessions, you will be able to understand how comfortable you feel from session to session. My approach is not going to work for everyone. What is most important to me is that you find someone who you feel is the right fit for you. We can explore that together.

 

 

What if I don't want to talk about something?

 

 

For most of my clients, it can feel scary to open up. During our sessions, it will always be up to you if you feel ready to talk about something or not. I will be there to guide you towards discovering what feels comfortable for you to share. Working within your pace, we can look at the tough stuff if you are ready. You can also share with me that you are nervous to open up about something and we can talk about that too. Whatever is present for you. Whatever you are going through. Bring that to session and we can explore that together.

 

 

I’m scared that if I open up, you will think I’m crazy?

 

 

If you open up to me, I will not think you are crazy, I will think you are unique and human. Many of my clients have had the same anxiety (that people would think they are crazy). Through my own life journey and working with my clients, I know how ‘normal’ your experience is.

 

You are not being dramatic or "too much." Nothing you can say will cause me to judge you. I know nobody is perfect, many of us are overwhelmed, we all have our strengths and weaknesses. Whatever it is you are going through, I provide a calming space where I respect you and listen with focus and compassion

 

 

Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?

 

 

You may be concerned that your friends, family, or work colleagues could learn what you have said during therapy. I want you to know that unless there is an imminent danger to yourself or someone else, everything you share with me is completely confidential. I highly respect your privacy and value your trust.

 

You can rest assured that you can talk about anything without fear of that information getting out. If you have specific questions about how confidentiality works, you can ask during our first session or anytime during our work together.

 

 

How long will therapy take?

 

 

You might be asking about how long therapy will take because you think that therapy will be an overwhelming process. If this is true for you, I want you to know that on average, my new clients start seeing small amounts of growth after the first a few sessions.

 

By that point, they feel like they have learned some ways to manage challenging stuff in their lives a bit better. The total duration of therapy varies from client to client. Some of my clients find 6-12 weeks to be enough to gain insight into their challenges. While other clients feel more supported by longer term therapy. We will work together to find the length of time that works for you.

 

 

What can I expect during the first session?

 

 

Overall, you can think of the first session as a free-flowing conversation through which we start getting to know each other. I’ll invite you to share more about yourself and we can also talk about what’s worked or not worked for your mental health in the past.

 

Some questions that I like to ask during a first session include:

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• What brought you to therapy?

• Have you gone to therapy before? How did that go?

• What do I need to know about you to understand your current challenges?

 

You can ask me questions as well. You might be curious about about why I'm a therapist or how I've helped other clients like you.

 

The most important part of a first session is to experience what therapy is like with me. If you feel safe, accepted, and comfortable with me, we can discuss if you’d like to meet again.

 

 

How can I get started?

 

You can contact me through phone call, text message or email and we can schedule your free consultation

 

Tel: Stephen 07921004344

E-mail: goldmindcoaching@gmail.com.