Eeeeik! this can feel like going on a date for the first time. Sweaty palms, nervous belly.
You have taken this step for yourself, but now you have to share yourself with a person and you're unsure exactly how it's going to go. Although you may have had a call with me, you might even have been follwoing me on my social pages for months. Its still scary, becasue the day has fianlly come for you to get the support you most deserve.
I've heard many stories from people that have had mediocre therapists in the past and let me tell you, sometimes we just dont get the right fit. Sometimes we just have to keep exploring other therapists until we get the right fit for us. Truth be told, I'm not sure we will be a good fit either. I have high hopes though too.
So, lets iron out a few things that you can do to get yourself ready for your first sesion with me.
GET READY TO OPEN THE HONESTY BOX
There is nothing you can tell me that will frighten me away. I'm trained to be with you in all of what you're carrying and if we keep things stored inside of ourselves we dont get the full beenfit of being seen and held. We cant really have a good opportunity to host a great relationship together. No matter how frightenining it is, when you let it out, you will feel relieved and you will notice something powerful happen within your body, it will finally feel settled and more calm.
BE A JUMBLED HOT MESS
It's very normal to come to therapy for the first time and feel like you cant get it all out straight and it's very normal to cry too. Dont worry about how you show up. This is the one realtionship you can have where you can come exactly how you are. no mask required. It's my job to hold you in it all and then to gently clear a path for you to see yourself and your life differntly. Also, whatever is happening in your energetic field surrounding you will present itself in every interaction I have with you and I can see energetically what you're carrying with you, and I'm able to draw attention and create space for this in therapy.
KNOW WHAT YOU WANT
After you've finally admitted that you'd like support and you've reached out to MEEEE. Now it's time to get clear on what it is you want from this relationship. This is a good journal prompt, start with the feelings, thoughts, behaviours that are holding you back and then write down what it is you want from therapy. The second list is a great one to share with me before the session or on the first session. This is a great startinmg platform and something for us to refer back to and for me to keep you accountable with.
GET INVOLVED
This is an active relationship you're embarking on. It requires you to be in it for it to thrive. If you're suffering with realtionships outside of therapy, this is a great chance to work on your realting style. I know you're paying for the time and the resources, which is what you're giving to the therapeutic realtionship and now the question is, what are you taking from the therapy? it's not the time and resources, that is only a small portion of it, you are REALLY wanting the shifts and changes. So even if the I want you to sing to the ocean each morning (ok thats weird, I've never asked anyone to do that), but whatever I suggest for you to do, why not throw your hands up in the air and give it a go? Then you can....
GIVE FEEDBACK
After singing to the whales each morning, you can report back, 'that was fucking life changing!!' or 'You know what?, when i sung i noticed some bloackages came up for me. I felt a lump in my throat and it reminded me of a time my mum told me to stop singing in the back of the car becasue I was awful at it.' You see? It's through activiely being part of the process that you get to understand more things about yourself and explore all the things that are blocking you so you can clear them out in therapy and live you best bloodty life.
So there are, my hot tips for starting your therapeutic realtionship, I really hope we're a great fit x