What Questions To Ask A New Therapist?

[Kunoichi]

Hey other,

I actually don't have income either but the state is paying for it through victim services (government run program) which is really really helpful. I will let you know how it goes. I'm very anxious about it but I figure it is worth to give it a shot..or few.

Thanks!

 

[Kunoichi]

Did first therapy session

All my therapist could say was wow...altho I really really liked her. Which I know was good.

I did get diagnosed with moderate depression though she feels its "situational" since the trauma. She did feel I had PTSD and gave me a number I can call to see a doc to get anxiety meds and sleep aids if i feel that I needed it. (She recommended it but didn't want me to do medicine unless she felt that I wanted it) She did tell me really informative things tho this was only the first session. My next one is in two weeks.

 

[2quilt]

Sounds very positive. I know that it helps me to write down my thoughts on this forum or in a diary to get it out of me and read it later when I am not feeling so sad or so angry or whatever emotion is overcoming. This is a great forum for asking questions too. I am pleased that your first visit went so well.

 

[askmenot]

Hi Kunoichi,
I've just been reading through all the posts on this topic and am delighted to read that you really liked your therapist.
I am a therapist, and am in therapy too, and I recently went back to therapy after a break since my last moved away. Even though it's my job and I've been in therapy lots, it was still very scary meeting this new guy for the first time (first male therapist too). The thing that helped me, was giving myself permission to have an opinion on him! I always say to new clients that the most important thing is that they feel a 'click' with me, that they feel that potentially, I might be someone they can trust - and that if they don't feel that 'click' then that's ok, and I ask them to really listen to that. We don't expect to be friends everyone we meet so why would we expect to necessarily like and trust a random therapist, even if they come recommended.
Anyway, I decided to try my own advice (great at dishing it out, not always so great at actually doing it myself!) and just check out what my 'click-o-meter' was telling me. I noticed that I was a lot less anxious after about 10 minutes. Decision made, then and there.
The hard part if you have PTSD can be to get past all the jumble of anxiety and self-doubt to be able to listen to your instincts about someone. The relationship itself is everything in therapy, that's where healing happens - well, that's my opinion I guess, it might not be everyone's - so if that's not right, I'd be looking elsewhere. But you sound happy so, best of luck to you on this exciting journey.