What to expect in therapy

2 minutes Written by Samantha Case

If you are new to therapy it can seem very daunting. You don’t know what to expect or what it will be like. Most of the time the perception is based off what is noted on movies and television shows, (Netflix, Hulu etc.) Therapy seems pretty simple, you sit on the couch and you tell your therapist what they need to know, and depending on the personality depends on what you get back. For daily life stress the therapist chosen is based of location and if the insurance covers the cost.

Please note that COMBAT PTSD is a different beast, choose your therapist carefully, to the best of your ability get someone who has dedicated their career to it, for them it is an art, that is constantly being shaped. As others have said before me, be an expert is someone who is an inch wide and a mile deep, do not entrust your experiences to someone who is a jack of all trades.

Ok off my soap box…

Therapy for PTSD begins…

-With anyone coming in, there is an assessment of the current life crisis, what brought you in?

-what made you email or call to set up the appointment?

-what drove you get out of your car and walk into the office?

Within this entire beginning process you should ask yourself…

Am I ready to change what is not working?

If your answer is yes, lets go!

Internal dialogue …

“I know I have to change, I am ready to hire the person that knows what they are doing and is going to do their best to help me, I am committed to make this change, this is what hiring this person means to me. I am committed to putting in the work of going to therapy, because I have been through worse, I have seen worse, and I have survived, I want to work on what is going on.”

When you are ready, reach out, text, call, email a therapist. Making contact is the first step. 

Avatar Samantha Case

Written by Samantha Case

Samantha Case is a therapist in California who specializes in individual therapy.