I’m nervous about starting therapy. Is that normal?
Therapy can be vulnerable and new, so it’s natural to be nervous. It can be scary to think of opening up and sharing personal stories in front of someone new, perhaps fearing that it will always be awkward and uncomfortable. The fear around that can feel overwhelming. It takes courage to start going to therapy. The fact that you are on this website, looking for help, and reading this right now shows that you are being brave and seeking help.
Therapy is a space where you can be yourself and come just as you are, including feeling hesitant. Our therapists are committed to finding a way to care for your anxieties and ensure sessions are as comfortable as possible.
We’re here if you want to talk about it in an email or in the initial consultation call!
How do I know if one of your therapists could be the right fit for me?
Take your time to read through our website. If you sense that we could help you, you can reach out. You’ll be able to tell us what’s up in an email or in the initial consultation call. Once we understand your needs, we will help you choose the therapist that is right for you. Or if you already have a therapist in mind, you may focus on getting to know them and making sure it feels like a mutual fit. You can ask us more about your therapist. You might be curious about their approach or what a typical session with them is like.
The first sessions are like an experiment to see how things go. During the first few sessions, you’ll be able to start seeing what it's like. Every therapist's approach is not going to work for everyone. What’s most important to us is that you find the right fit for you. We can explore that together.
What if I don't want to talk about something?
If something feels overwhelming or even terrifying to discuss, that's actually very normal. It can often feel difficult to talk about some things.
During sessions it will always be up to you if you feel ready to talk about something or not. Your therapist will collaborate with you to understand what you feel ready to open up about. Together you'll work through the difficult stuff.
You can also share with your therapist that you are nervous to open up about something and they will be able to talk about that too. Whatever is present for you. Whatever you are going through. Bring that to session and you can explore that with your therapist.
I’m scared that if I open up, my therapist will judge me.
If you open up to your therapist, they will not think you are crazy, a lost cause, stupid (insert unkind adjective here). They will think you are a human going through some stuff. We know this because many of our clients have had the same fear!
Nothing you can say will cause your Recreating Dawn therapist to judge you. We all suffer in different ways, we may have normal reactions to abnormally challenging experiences, we are all humans trying to human, imperfections and all!
Whatever it is you're going through, we provide a comfortable space where your therapist will listen to you and give you their full support.
Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?
Your personal privacy and trust are of utmost importance.
It can be concerning feeling like things you say or do in therapy could "get out" in the close-knit Northeast Ohio community. So we want you to know that unless there is an imminent danger* to yourself or someone else, everything you share with your therapist is completely confidential. (*Even then we try to collaborate with you to find the safest most peaceful option for care)
You can rest assured that you can talk about anything without fear of that information getting out.
If you have specific questions about how confidentiality works, you can ask in an email or in the initial consultation call or anytime.
How long will therapy take?
You might be asking about how long therapy will take because therapy is hard to fit into your busy schedule.
If this is true for you, we want you to know that on average, our new clients start seeing positive effects after the first a few sessions.
By that point, they feel a little more calm and hopeful that healing is possible.
The total duration of therapy varies from client to client. Some of our clients find 8-16 weeks to be enough to resolve immediate challenges. While other clients feel most supported by long term therapy. You can work together with your therapist to find the length of time that works for you.
What can I expect during the first session?
Overall, you can think of the first session as a free-flowing conversation through which you and your therapist can start getting to know each other. Your therapist will invite you to share more about yourself and you can also share what’s worked or not worked for your mental health in the past.
Some questions that your therapist may ask during a first session include:
- What has made you seek therapy at this point in your life?
- Have you gone to therapy before? How did that go?
- What do I need to know about you to understand your current challenges?
- What goals would you like to reach by going to therapy?
You can ask your therapist questions as well. You might be curious about the therapist's experience or how future sessions work.
The most important part of a first session is to build comfort with your therapist and the therapy space/experience. If you feel safe, accepted, and comfortable with your therapist, you can discuss if and when you’d like to meet again.
How can I get started?
To get started, schedule an initial phone consultation in our online scheduler. During your initial call, you can share what’s going on for you and ask us any questions you may have.
Through understanding your needs we will help you confirm the best therapist for you and schedule you in for your first session.
Get started by scheduling your initial video (or phone) consultation today.
