What to expect from your first counseling session in San Jose, CA
Living in San Jose, CA has huge perks. Great weather, wonderful food options, diversity and always something to do. But, if you are feeling anxious and overwhelmed, even those things can cause stress and anxiety. You know you need to do something different but what can you expect in the first anxiety therapy session and how can a therapist help you? And how long does it take to feel better?
What will happen after you decide to schedule your therapy appointment?
After you have scheduled your first therapy appointment, you will receive an email from me with important forms you need to fill out, some videos about Brainspotting therapy and where my office is. I like to have you fill out 48 hours before your first appointment so that I can look at it before we meet for the first time.
What do you need to do to prepare for the first trauma counseling session?
You don’t need to do anything except remind yourself about how brave you are to take this step. And sometimes starting a new journey can cause anxiety and that is very normal. Remember, that it takes a lot of courage to call a therapist.
What happens in the first therapy session?
During your first therapy session, we will talk about why you are coming to therapy and also discuss your goals for our time together. Sometimes it's hard to know what your goals are so we talk about what you might want more or less of in your life and we will go over the forms to come up with a plan for you to find healing and live a more free and meaningful life.
Will I have homework?
No, you will not have homework. Because your brain is an amazing healing machine, it will keep processing and working even more after our counseling session then it did when we were in session. Pretty amazing, huh?
When will I have my next session?
We will talk about scheduling your next session for the following week. We can talk about if it works best for you to schedule at the same time every week or if it works best to have a different time each week. Different things work for different people.
What if I don’t like what happened in the first counseling session or I am not sure it is a good match?
Its important to remember that you are interviewing me and if it doesn’t feel like a good fit, it’s most helpful to say that. If you feel like we are not a good fit, that is ok. I want you to have the freedom to tell me that, because this is about you, not me, right? I am well connected to therapists in San Jose if you need a referral to someone one else. I want you to find the right therapist to work with!
How long does it take to feel better?
The length of time it takes to feel better in anxiety counseling can vary depending on your circumstances. Counseling is a process and progress is not always linear. I have found that Brainspotting therapy sessions take less time for healing than when talk therapy is used alone. Many people say they can feel change beginning to happen within 2-3 sessions (some even feel change after session #1).
I hope that these answers will help you know a little bit more about what to expect in therapy sessions and helps you find the right therapist in San Jose, CA. Your story and experience is unique and you want someone to get it. If you are still feeling stuck, feel free to contact me at (408) 535-0163 for a free 15 minute phone consultation. I’d be happy to hear about what you are struggling with and help direct you to the right therapist. If you are looking for help with anxiety, you can read more about how I can help here.
