How do I prepare for therapy or counseling sessions?

← All Topics

You usually don’t have to prepare for therapy. Simply come with an open mind and curiosity about yourself. But here are three tips that can help you get the most out of your therapy experience.

1. You may find it helpful to journal about your thoughts and feelings before you come to therapy. Sometimes a journal can help guide your therapy sessions. Here are some journal prompts to get you started:

  • Why do I want to go to therapy?
  • How do I feel about where I am in my life?
  • What goals do I want to accomplish?
  • What’s been bothering me lately?
  • Do I want to talk about a specific mental health problem?
  • What do I love about my life?

2. You may want to schedule some down time after therapy to process your session, especially if you’re discussing heavy or painful topics.

3. If opening up about your feelings is a new experience for you, then before your first session, you may want to practice sharing your feelings out loud in private. Consider exploring the feelings wheel and identifying what you are currently feeling.