{"id":17238,"date":"2017-12-07T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-12-07T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/about\/?p=17238"},"modified":"2023-01-12T19:10:17","modified_gmt":"2023-01-13T00:10:17","slug":"how-to-prepare-for-your-first-therapy-session-for-depression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/uncategorized\/how-to-prepare-for-your-first-therapy-session-for-depression\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Prepare for Your First Therapy Session for Depression"},"content":{"rendered":"

Taking charge of your mental health by going to therapy is a big step for anyone, but if you\u2019re struggling with depression, it can feel especially difficult. The apathy, self-doubt and fatigue that can come with depression may make it challenging to get the treatment you need \u2014 but they can be overcome. Simply taking the step to reach out to a therapist means you\u2019re on track to feeling better, and just a bit of preparation can make your first session a success.<\/p>\n

A short introductory call can make for a successful first session<\/h2>\n

Preparing for your first session of therapy can be as simple as picking up the phone to get a sense of whether you and your therapist may be compatible. \u201cSuccessful therapy is all about the connection with the therapist,\u201d says Linda Garcia-Rose<\/a>, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and psychotherapist who runs her own practice in New York City. \u201cYou want someone who\u2019s going to talk to you before the appointment and ask if you have any questions before therapy.\u201d<\/p>\n

You set the tone and the pace of your therapy<\/h2>\n

Therapy is a series of deep conversations with a supportive and objective professional \u2014 and that means the kind of conversations you\u2019ll have is up to you. \u201cA good therapist is always going to start wherever the client is,\u201d says Garcia-Rose. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter where you are in your depression cycle, it doesn\u2019t matter how you come in, a good therapist will support you.\u201d<\/p>\n

That initial session is all about building a rapport and learning about your history. You may be asked to fill out an intake form, or your therapist may ask about your medical history, any physical symptoms you’re experiencing, and the medications you\u2019re taking.<\/p>\n

Your first session should also touch on what brought you to therapy and what your objectives are. Fear not \u2014 there are no wrong answers, says Garcia-Rose. If your objective is simply to go to the therapy session, for example, that\u2019s absolutely fine. If you\u2019ve been to therapy before, your therapist might ask what worked for you and what didn\u2019t, so they can customize their treatment to your needs.<\/p>\n

Finally, your therapist can answer any questions you have about therapy during the initial session, if they weren\u2019t answered in your intro phone call. Writing down your questions beforehand may help you remember them \u2014 but if you don\u2019t feel up to it, don\u2019t sweat it. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to think about anything other than to just come in,\u201d Garcia-Rose says.<\/p>\n

You may feel emotional after a session, but your therapist will make sure you\u2019re safe<\/h2>\n

Going to that first session and opening up about your depression can be emotionally taxing, and you might feel any range of emotions after the session. You might feel relieved that you took the first step toward feeling better, but it\u2019s also normal if you feel tired or anxious afterwards. \u201cWhatever you go through is normal, there is no set response, \u201d says Garcia-Rose. \u201cWe will talk how you felt after this appointment at the next one.\u201d<\/p>\n

That said, a good therapist will make sure your emotions don\u2019t overwhelm you. Very heavy issues, like the specific details of past trauma, probably won\u2019t come up in your first session. Your therapist will get to know you, but you won\u2019t leave emotionally exhausted.<\/p>\n

Treating depression is a long process<\/h2>\n

Depression is just like any other medical issue \u2014 diabetes, high blood pressure, even a broken bone \u2014 and it takes time to feel better. So don\u2019t feel discouraged if you don\u2019t feel like you\u2019ve made progress after that first session. \u201cIt\u2019s a process: you don\u2019t want to move too quickly and you don\u2019t want to move too slowly,\u201d says Garcia-Rose.<\/p>\n

However, if you find you can\u2019t build a rapport with your therapist, don\u2019t hesitate to seek out another one. \u201cPeople should know that if the connection doesn\u2019t work, they should feel empowered to say \u2018hey, this doesn\u2019t work for me\u2019 and go to another therapist,\u201d she says. \u201cBut don\u2019t give up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Ready to book a therapy appointment? Visit Zocdoc.<\/a><\/h1>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Taking charge of your mental health by going to therapy is a big step for anyone, but if you\u2019re struggling with depression, it can feel especially difficult. The apathy, self-doubt and fatigue that can come with depression may make it challenging to get the treatment you need \u2014 but they can be overcome. Simply taking […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":17391,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,230],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17238","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","category-zocdoc-reports"],"yoast_head":"\nHow to Prepare for Your First Therapy Session for Depression<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Taking charge of your mental health by going to therapy is a big step for anyone, but if you\u2019re struggling with depression, it can feel especially dif\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/uncategorized\/how-to-prepare-for-your-first-therapy-session-for-depression\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" 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