So you’ve decided it’s time to speak with a mental health professional who can guide you. Go you! Deciding to see a mental health professional is a huge step that requires courage. A lot of people who give therapy a shot give up after their first few sessions, feeling like it’s not for them.
Finding the right therapist can be a trial and error process. Putting in some effort to determine how to get what you need is key to a successful experience. Here are some tips for getting the most you can from therapy.
Identify what you want to take away. Is it learning strategies for coping with stress? Or working through unresolved feelings from a traumatic experience? Setting a goal for yourself can help you get clear on what you ultimately want to walk away with. Your therapist will also ask you this in your initial sessions, so it’s helpful to have identified your goals beforehand.
Do your research. Determine what’s important to you in a therapist and do your homework. Do you want to work with a black therapist? Or someone who specializes in