What is it that you want from therapy?  What change do you want to experience? 

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You don’t need to be precise but you will need to have thought about this before your first meeting with a therapist.  It will help the two of you decide if you can work successfully together. 

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How long for?

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You may feel hesitant to commit to therapy, it can be portrayed as a never-ending, financially draining commitment but this is not the case. 

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The number of sessions will depend on you, your therapist, the type of therapy, and the depth and complexity of the issues you want to resolve

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You can sign up for a defined period, say twelve weeks, or to talk about a specific issue, as well as engage in a longer-term process.  This longer-term process is undefined as the appropriate length will become apparent naturally as the width and depth of your exploration unfolds.  It depends on what you cover and the change that occurs.  How long you stay in therapy is your decision. 

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Choosing a therapist

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It’s not easy to choose one person from amongst so many but it is worth taking a little time over as you and they will be spending time together, week on week, with you talking about things that worry you, have gone wrong for you, about the things you’re passionate and care about.  The conversation is about you, and intimate personal conversation at that.

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For example, is it important, or not at all important, that they have a photo, that you like the look of the person you will spend such important time with over the coming months? 

What does the therapist say – about their work; how they think about clients; themselves and their own history.  Of most relevance, how do you feel after reading what they’ve said? 

 

What is it important for you to have in a therapist?

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You need to feel sure enough about the person you choose to be your therapist, that they’re on your side, going to help you, to sustain you through the work.  This is not an easy task on which you are about to embark. 

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Once chose, approach the relationship as a partnership and be an active participant. 

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