Hopeful

[Weapon]

I've been thinking about going to therapy but I am very nervous but know I need this move. I'm not sure what to do in the military it was lined out on where to go. I get really bad anxiety when I call to setup a appointment. What should I do what type of therapist is best?


Thanks!

 

[Jacquie]

Understand that you open up as much or as little as YOU want to. And if your therapist isnt happy with that..walk out. Go back when you feel like it or try a different therapist. The important thing to understand is that you are not locked into whatever you decide to 'try'.

 

[ronin47]

Take a deep breath for starters. This is just the first step of many, and at times it may feel like two steps forward, three steps back, but trust me when I say if you perserve it will be completely and totally worth it.

So I'm unclear, are you seeing a therapist through the VA or something? I'm not familiar with how the military process.

In any case, I would recommend a psychologist. That is a professional with a doctoral degree with internship and possible residency training under his or her belt. I've been through a long string of therapists and it wasn't until I found a psychologist that I really began to make progress. He wasn't even a full certified psychologist actually. He was a doctoral intern, meaning he had a Masters degree and finished all his coursework for the Ph.D,he just had to do an internship before he could get his doctorate. That may give you some idea of how much more effective psychologists can be. I do not exagerate in the least when I say I made more progress working with him for seven months than I did with the cumulative two years of seeing other types of professionals prior to that, by a long way.

Have you set up appointments already? If you get nervous I would recommend going into the office directly and making an appointment. It may be just as nervewracking, but not as easy for you to bail out of actually making the appointment.

It's natural to be nervous, but I promise you it has the capacity to bring you to a happier and more peaceful place than you ever thought possible.

 

[doglover]

Getting nervous when you call to make an appointment is normal! You're trying to start a relationship that means opening up about things you don't tell just anyone. Natural to be nervous about it.

It might be some trial and error. Some folks work better with one personality over another. There's research that suggests how you feel about their personality is more important than the type of treatment... and you won't know that very well until you meet with them a bit. There are different styles between people using the same model.

I like the idea to go into the office. Or just see it as a trial, you don't have to go back, it's just one meeting to try it out. If they know what they are doing they should be able to offer you some reassurance.

Your very first time there will be very structured so it will just be about answering questions for the paperwork. And it is up to you how much you say. They are there to help you with what you feel like you need. If you don't want to answer questions you don't have to.