Entering therapy.. for real this time.. advice?

[darkeyes]

I'm so scared of sitting face to face and telling some person I don't know about my problems.

I'm nervous I will pick apart the person and end up hating her. It's what I do.

I've never been through real therapy. I don't think my parents literally dragging me to it since I was 12 and never returning doesn't count.

I also had a bad experience with one when I was about 13, she kept shoving morality and religious questions down my throat and as an agnostic, it was quite off putting. I don't even think she asked me any questions about my problems.

And therapists offices are really depressing, at least the ones I've been to.

But I am really ready to give it a chance, I think unloading secrets I've kept so long may actually help me.

I'd just like some input on what I should expect the first visit because it's been 4 years since I went to one.

 

[Mikeintx]

The first visit will just be a simple q and a. They will ask you some things about yourself, tell you a little about the type of therapy they do and about themself usually. Its pretty basic and a good therapist will not be judgemental or try to push religious views on you.

 

[darkeyes]

Thanks a lot. :smile: I just hate going into something not knowing what to expect.

I think when I was young just found a bunch of bad therapists in the past and I hope this one will be really great. If not I guess I'll keep shopping around. On the other hand I resisted with every bit of my strength in the past and now I'm in the position where there's no choice but to start it up and I don't really care enough to resist. If worst comes to worse I'll just tune everything out. :wink:

 

[snowraven]

Be honest. A therapist is there to help and can only do so if they know your full situation. If they start getting religeous on you then find a better therapist. Best of luck. I hope you get the help you are looking for.:smile:

 

[Starlite]

snowraven is right. Be very honest with how you are feeling. Therapy can only be beneficial if you are real with yourself and with the therapist!

 

[darkeyes]

Aw thank you all for the support. :hug:

I'm surprisingly becoming optimistic about going (if she ever calls back), it's the getting there that's hard for me, the anticipation. Even the drive to the psych every few months for 15 minutes to check on my meds is one long panic attack, I can't imagine talking for an hour or however long but I'm definitely going to give it my best shot. I guess once you've gone through a lot of meds without the severe social phobia going away you realize you have to do whatever it takes no matter how uncomfortable it may be that day.

But just to get this thought to stop racing through my mind - If I tell them that I self-mutilate, have constant suicidal thoughts and fantasize about/plan my demise is anything going to happen to me? The last thing I want is to be put under the Baker Act and sent off somewhere. It might be an irrational fear because I don't think I'm at least an immediate danger to myself but I'd still like to know.

 

[Stranger1]

Hey Aubrey,
I have found when nervous it helps to write down what you want to talk about. You talk at your own pace, you don't have to tell all in one session. It took me two years to finally tell all to my therapist and now she has been able to put tobgether a better treatment plan.
My therapist is excellent at what she does because she suffered from alot of the same things we do. She finally put her foot down went to school and became a therapist because she has been there and wanted to help others. My point is it will take some time to build that bond between you..
I have been thru two other therapists before I found her. In my opinion women make better therapists than men. Men tend to be a little stuffy. Give it time, you have been ill for years so it will take time to fix things... Take Care!!