It’s common to experience fear when you decide to begin therapy sessions. At first, you may feel uncomfortable speaking about personal issues with someone you don’t know. While fear is a natural emotion, it can be confronted by reframing your anxious thoughts. Below, we offer a few tips on how to overcome your doubts about speaking with a professional clinician.

Decide what you’d like from your clinician.

From the get-go, be open and honest with your clinician about what you need from the session. Do you want someone who will offer advice? Listen silently? Would you like the conversation to be casual or feel more like you’re speaking with an expert? If you express your needs from the beginning, the clinician can then guide the session accordingly. Clinicians will work with you to better understand your needs and help you through life’s struggles.

You don’t have to go into it alone.

If speaking to a professional in a one-on-one setting scares you, you might find comfort in group therapy. In this environment, it’s up to you if you want to share your feelings or just simply listen to others, all of whom are working to navigate similar challenges. Depending on the goals and objectives of the group, the purpose of a group therapy session is to share experiences, address symptoms and discuss treatment goals. You might find that group sessions will help boost your confidence when it comes to discussing your personal challenges, making it easier for you to ultimately try one-on-one sessions with a clinician.

Know that each session doesn’t have to include a “big conversation.”

Sometimes, small struggles carry just as much weight in our minds as the bigger ones do. Don’t be embarrassed to spend time in your session discussing the smaller challenges in your life. No struggle you face will be seen as insignificant. After all, discussions about small issues could lead to bigger revelations during your session. Knowing that treatment pace is based on your vision can help alleviate the pressure.

If you’re ready to begin your journey to recovery, we encourage you to contact us today. South Bay Community Services strives to provide the proper programs, certified staff members and clinicians for the perfect combination of professional therapy and guidance. At South Bay, you will find the support and guidance you need.

For more information, contact us at 508-521-2200 or click here.