New To Therapy, What Will Happen?

[ex123]

Hi,
So I have been diagnosed with PTSD from childhood abuse. The counselor I was seeing at my University, was so great, however we never got in depth in my trauma, because I only had 10 sessions with him, and he didn't want to have to let me go in the middle of the process. Anyways, a lot of our sessions were silent, because I have such a hard time speaking about feelings, let alone my trauma. Now I am supposed to see someone new, and I am so nervous. The one traumatic thing I did talk about with the last therapist, and it was not even that traumatic to me, anyways he commented on how fidgety I was, and how quickly I left the room at the end of the session, and when I stood up, I could not feel my legs. I am scared that I'm not even going to be able to physically speak about my trauma, and or if I do its just going to look weird to the therapist, because it'll be so hard for me to do. I am going to start seeing a new therapist, for long term, is there anyway to get past this fear, or will he have some recommendations, and be understanding?

 

[aut555]

Okay, it's great you are looking for help and receiving therapy. Can you tell the therapist that you feel uncomfortable talking about (?). They are use to having clients like that, and should have a line of questions to roll. They may say "Okay , is there anything you wish to talk about?" Just try to relax, breathe, ask the therapist if you can discuss on next session if it doesn't feel right. I feel we are the cars, the therapist is like the stoplight or traffic cop, they try to direct you and you slowly open up and reveal your feelings. Only then can you heal. So just do your best. If you go in too uptight, you will feel like the session was a waste of time. Try to relax and stay postive.

 

[Suzetig]

A good therapist will have no expectation that you talk about your trauma in your first session, or your second, or third - they'll work at your pace, build a relationship with you and help you get to a point where you're able to talk.

This early on it's about you getting a sense of whether you want to work with them specifically. You might decide to work on whatever is around for you day by day (i.e. What's happening just now that has made you decide to seek therapy). That might sound like an odd question but having been abused doesn't necessarily mean you need to be in therapy, many people never seek therapy. So, how is what happened to you impacting your daily life, what symptoms are you struggling with most - a therapist can help you mange panic attacks, flashbacks etc without necessarily working on the trauma specifically. So, you could pick an area to talk about knowing that it's entirely up to you whether you talk about trauma at all.

 

[Bristol]

Hi,
So I have been diagnosed with PTSD from childhood abuse. The counselor I was seeing at my U...

A good therapist wont think your weird. I spend alot of my sessions in silence because i struggle to put words to any of it and i am about 11 sessions in but my T is good she will push sometimes which can help get it out there, if i dont want to answer the question then i dont. As @aut555 says, all you can really try and do is relax, i have a session today and have learnt that i cant really prepare for it i just have to get in the room the rest will take care of itself when its meant to and in my own time