Therapy For Beginners: Finding A Therapist

I shared a post on my IG that told the story of my first time in therapy. It ended up resonating with many and inspired me to start a series on the blog dubbed “Therapy For Beginners.” If I’m honest, I think we’re all beginners in therapy, no matter how long you’ve gone for, because of how much you continue to learn about yourself every single session.

Nonetheless, I do think that as a society we’ve gotten used to encouraging people start therapy without holding their hand through the real beginning stages.

Finding a therapist especially can feel intimidating. No matter how old you are or how ready you feel to make a session there’s a fear that settles into your stomach about the possibility of being “found out” after hiding for so long. Whether you’re struggling with childhood trauma, anxiety, PTSD, depression, miscarriage, infertility issues, the list goes and on, the pressure of opening yourself up to a new person can feel immense.

THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU’LL BE GAINING

Before you even start the google search for a new therapist, take a few minutes to write down why you want to start therapy and what you’re hoping to gain from the experience. The list can become a tangible thing to hold when the beginning process gets scary. While any individual step may feel brand new or intimidating, you’ll still have your true north to hold onto — you know what you want from therapy and why you’re doing this for yourself.

YOU’RE NOT ONE-SIZE-FIT-ALL AND NEITHER IS YOUR FUTURE THERAPIST

It’s wonderful to ask friends how they found their therapists or to look online for resources like this one that will help you narrow in on what you should be looking for, but ultimately the main voice of reason will be you. That list of what you want to gain from your therapy experience should be your starting point for how unique you are and how unique your therapist has to be in order to help meet your needs. Don’t be afraid to interview therapists ahead of making a formal first appointment either, weeding therapists out in this way will help save you time and emotional energy in the long run.

BUDGET IN DATING TIME

I am probably not the first person to tell you that a big part of finding a therapy is a lot like dating. You get to know multiple different therapists until you find the one that is right for you. One surefire way to set yourself up for success is to set realistic expectations for yourself. Remind yourself that you will need to interview more than one therapist or that it may take you a little longer than expected to find the one that’s the right fit for you. If you’re in desperate need of mental health support, there are in between options that can help serve you right now.

I’ll be back next week with more therapy for beginners content, but feel free to drop a note down below on what else you’d like to read about!