Therapy question

[teatimefor2]

Tomorrow I have my first therapy session about my PPD. I've never been in any type of therapy before. Any suggestions? What should I expect? Overall, now that I'm medicated I'm feeling much better.

Thanks! I'm just a little nervous.

UPDATED: It went really well. I liked her a lot and it was an overview. In going to go biweekly for a bit. It was very conversational which I liked. I'm feeling better about a lot of things.

[Deleted]

I went a few times for my depression. We just talked about what had me feeling so overwhelmed and why I thought something was wrong. She gave me some ideas of things to try differently (like, for a while, I did drop off and DH did pick up instead of the usual which is the other way around). She validated my feelings and encouraged me to ask DH for what I needed. She had kleenex boxes all over her office and was obviously accustomed to a few tears. Just consider it a safe place to vent and ask for advice and generally have some attention. It's not scary once you're done the first one.

[lolo]

Usually the first session is more of a getting to know you--why are you here, what are your goals, what's been happening in your life, etc. I didn't find I really 'got' anything from the first session. I also completed an intake form prior to that session and the therapist asked about a few aspects of that form.

In later sessions, I found that my therapist had really excellent ideas of activities I could do in between sessions to help improve things or gather information so we could brainstorm solutions. She was good at gently suggesting areas for me to own and also promoting me to be more vocal and assertive where I needed help. She also provided a range of communication strategies which I still find enormously helpful. She helped me question my 'should' inner voice (should really work out, eat better, have sex, etc) and has helped me tweak some funky thinking patterns that I had.

I'm really proud of you for taking the time to do this.

[Deleted]

Just relax:). It was way less scary than I thought it would be. You'll just be talking about what's bothering you and your therapist will ask questions to figure out what you're hoping to achieve from therapy.

I always felt a lot better after sessions. Good luck!

[dulcemariamar]

I agree with lolo about the first appointment. Basically, the first appointment is to get to know each other and get to feel comfortable with the situation. Around session 3 is when I found it to become effective.

Don't worry too much. It should be a safe place for you.

[pinotgrig]

Thinking of you today, TT. I know it will go great.

[teatimefor2]

Thank you all. I've spoken to her on the phone and she seemed really nice. I think it would be good for me and we will see what she says. Should be interesting.

[greycat]

Good luck today!

Others have covered what to expect well. I just wanted to add that if after a few sessions you don't feel like you are clicking with the therapist, it's ok to change. I saw someone for a little while but it became mostly a vent session for me and not so productive. I started going to another therapist and was much happier. I was able to vent but he challenged the way I looked at things (gently) and I found his seasons much more helpful.

[lolo]

Sept 29, 2015 7:57:40 GMT -5 greycat said:

Good luck today!

Others have covered what to expect well. I just wanted to add that if after a few sessions you don't feel like you are clicking with the therapist, it's ok to change. I saw someone for a little while but it became mostly a vent session for me and not so productive. I started going to another therapist and was much happier. I was able to vent but he challenged the way I looked at things (gently) and I found his seasons much more helpful.

This is an excellent and important point.

[simpsongal]

Good luck! I'm glad you're feeling better.

[Deleted]

Just a note to say good luck! I just started seeing a therapist for the first time and it's going well, we focus on how I'm feeling/thinking and she mostly lets me drive the conversation. So for example, my next session I want to talk about how I've been feeling about the diagnosis, what triggers I've identified and what makes me feel better (right now that last one is real short, because the answer is not much, but i should start meds next week).

[anna7602]

I felt like a hamster on a wheel the first few sessions, like "where is this going? why am I just saying the same things over and over?" I was encouraged by friends to really give it a chance and I'm glad that I did. There's no "eureka" moment in the first session, but eventually, patterns start to emerge. I realized that things I thought were completely separate issues were actually related and I learned strategies that could help me tackle them all.

[jorja]

I'm so glad you're feeling better, and that you liked her...that's so great!