what to say in email to set up first therepy appointment

Choosing to see a therapist is a huge decision. It'south that moment when you lot decide:

• You demand or desire aid (did you actually but acknowledge that to yourself?).
• You tin can no longer manage this state of affairs equally effectively as you'd similar to.
• You've been stuck for a while and desire to motion forrad.

Equally a therapist, I tin often perceive a shift in the person I'grand speaking to on the other stop of the line once that first appointment has been set. I can sense that person breathing merely a picayune fleck easier, and in that location's often a subtle acknowledgment of hope and even accomplishment, as in, "I've just taken the first important step toward my hereafter well-being."

What leads up to that showtime stride? How tin can you lot accept that first stride with more conviction so that yous don't feel like you're grasping at straws? So that you feel empowered in the process?

I recommend doing five things earlier finding a therapist.

Discover a Therapist

1. Call up About What You Desire to Proceeds from the Counseling Process

It'southward helpful to have a goal or ii in listen as you lot begin. For instance, are you lot focused on processing a particular incident in your past? Are you interested in developing better communication skills? Are you eager to challenge the fashion you customarily think near yourself or the globe around you lot (your inner dialogue)? Do you want to create a toolbox for coping with feet? Are you looking for a "prophylactic" place to express your feelings regarding a loss?

It can be helpful to have a place to brainstorm and to be able to limited that to the person you choose to work with. Of course, yous can alter your goals or add to them once you lot begin counseling. Sometimes a deeper objective comes to the surface later on, in one case a therapeutic foundation and a sense of trust has been established.

Find out which therapists in your area are accustomed to helping people with the kinds of things you lot hope to explore. Nearly therapists have online profiles that outline the type of piece of work they typically appoint in.

2. Do a Little Inquiry

Find out which therapists in your surface area are accustomed to helping people with the kinds of things y'all hope to explore. Most therapists have online profiles that outline the blazon of work they typically engage in.

If you're comfortable asking, observe out if people you trust accept any recommendations. You will need to be sure that if you cull to work with someone who also counsels someone you know, y'all volition non find yourself censoring what you have to say. (You can expect annihilation you say to remain confidential.) Otherwise, it'due south probably best to discover someone on your own.

Stack the odds for a successful and pleasant feel in your favor. This might mean finding someone you don't need to travel too far to see, finding a therapist who has an ample parking lot (so that you don't get stressed trying to find parking each time y'all go), making sure the office is handicap accessible, or ensuring the office has hours that will accommodate your schedule. Y'all desire to remove as many potential barriers as possible to getting at that place and obtaining the help you desire. You certainly don't want therapy to add together an additional layer of stress.

This leads us to the third thing to exercise before therapy.

three. Explore Your Behavioral Health Benefits

Be familiar with the insurance coverage y'all accept, if any, and what information technology volition embrace in terms of behavioral wellness, both in-network and out-of-network. Find out if yous have a deductible and how much you have satisfied and so far, what the therapist'due south fees are, what your copayment is, whether you lot demand a referral or authorization, and whether you lot are allotted a express number of sessions. Having this information volition enable you to exist an informed consumer.

It's best to know what therapy volition cost per session earlier you brainstorm so there are no surprises once you start. Again, you want it to be as comfortable and smooth a process as possible.

4. Have Questions Set up When You Schedule Your First Appointment

Write down the proper noun, number, and location of the therapist you are calling, as well as the questions you want to inquire. This way, you tin go on track of responses if you reached out to more than one advisor. Don't be afraid to go the answers you demand. You may want to ask the therapist directly virtually how they work, how long the sessions are, and how often you will typically meet. Feel free to ask about office procedures such as terminal-minute cancellations, what happens when in that location'south bad weather, etc.

This chat gives y'all the opportunity to get a "vibe" or sense of whether you will exist comfortable working with a detail therapist.

Finally …

5. Prepare to Practise Some Piece of work

Yous will get out of counseling what y'all are willing to put into information technology. Information technology's not e'er piece of cake. It requires thought, introspection, reflection, and attempt, a willingness to "effort on" dissimilar perceptions or experiment with alternative behavioral approaches.

Know that there will exist days you will feel resistant and won't want to nourish your session. I tell people I work with in therapy that THOSE sessions, when you lot DO prove up, are often the about meaningful and powerful ones. Hesitation tin can serve as a bespeak that of import work is about to exist washed. Showing up and telling your therapist that you contemplated canceling can open up a significant dialogue near where yous are in your healing procedure, also as where y'all're going.

Don't throw a dart at an online directory. Have responsibility for your healing every bit best y'all tin can. Don't expect that every therapist will be the perfect match for you. Detect the right fit. Feel the relief and self-assuredness that you are making an informed option when you make that telephone call and schedule your first therapy engagement.

© Copyright 2015 GoodTherapy.org. All rights reserved. Permission to publish granted by Laurie Leinwand, MA, LPC, Adjusting to Alter/Life Transitions Topic Expert Correspondent

The preceding commodity was solely written past the writer named in a higher place. Any views and opinions expressed are not necessarily shared by GoodTherapy.org. Questions or concerns nigh the preceding commodity can be directed to the writer or posted as a comment beneath.

Delight fill out all required fields to submit your message.

Invalid E-mail Address.

Please confirm that you are human.

Go out a Comment

dickersonwallecurese.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/what-to-do-before-scheduling-your-first-therapy-session-0625154

Share this post