Meeting new therapist today

[Deleted member 41765]

Im considering joining an art therapy group and am meeting with the facilitator later today. The anxiety is building to the point where it's difficult to concentrate (unfortunately or fortunately, I'm at work).

I've been with my current therapist, on and off, for ten years and the relationship we have built has been instrumental to my life. It obviously feels like an enormous risk to let someone else (and then the subsequent group members) into the loop. A risk I know I need take, but still...

Thoughts? Advice?

 

[The Albatross]

Show up and if anything else you're being authentic and your group leader/facilitator will be able to assess your needs more astutely. Refocus on the reason for participation here. It's to be assistive. It's a risk for what? Risk because underneath what are you thinking/feeling... that's the driver/main issue. Choose the next step and to at least try group.

 

[anthony]

Anxiety for the unknown is perfectly normal. Feeling a little anxious is normal. Just don't let the anxiety drive your decisions... stick with your meeting and see what happens. Enjoy. Art group therapy sounds relaxing. Done it before, found it super interesting, the weird and wonderful things we would come up with -- from pottery smashing our trauma away, to being silly with instruments and karaoke. Always walked away laughing and relaxed.

 

[Muted]

I think therapy groups are easier than other general social type groups, because with therapy there isn't so much people with a facade. Is hard to be around 'normal' fake people when yer working on deep trauma issues, because you have to be real.

I think art therapy sounds beneficial and a great outlet for expressing how you feel. I'd forgotten how helpful that was to me in the past. Is it possible that there's someone who's safe that can go with you? Large groups can be overwhelming, it might be easier if it was a smaller group or something.