Making the first steps towards therapy can be scary.

Navigating the space of directories, psychology today profiles, websites and more is overwhelming enough. Add in trying to find someone who fits our individual emotional needs and that can be quite a challenge.

One of the biggest hurdles to seeking services is our own mental and emotional readiness. Therapy is a process that invites you to explore unresolved issues and difficult experiences. This can be difficult to navigate without some baseline of what you actually are looking for. Here are some questions to ask yourself that can guide you in preparing for therapy, and ultimately finding the best therapist for you!

Why do I want to start therapy?

Why do you want to start therapy? What has brought you to seek services in the first place? Begin by reflecting on your overall sense of self, relationships, career, and other factors in your life that bring you to stress, or in general, you would like to work on. Is there a narrative in the past that keeps popping up every now and again? Be honest with where you are at. Understanding where you are will help you think about what areas you need support in.

What have my experiences in therapy been? What did I like, and not like? What are my expectations and what do I think about therapy as a whole?

Therapy is a tool to support you in developing coping skills, changing your perspective, and meeting your goals. Ask yourself about your previous experiences with therapy if any. If this is your first time working with a therapist what would be the ideal type of person you would like to work with. It’s normal to have conflicting feelings about going to therapy. In many cultures and circles therapy has a stigma to it. Does this play into how you approach therapy? Take the time to reflect and see what comes up.

What do I need in a therapist?

It is so important that you take the time to find a therapist that you feel comfortable with. You and your therapist should be a good fit for your individual needs. Ask yourself, what am I looking to accomplish? Which aspects of your life are you having trouble with? Look into what a therapist actually specializes in and see if that sounds like something you’d like to try.

Am I ready to make this step?

Therapy does involve a commitment, but not the one you think. It is a commitment to yourself. Are you willing to go through feelings that may be uncomfortable and difficult? Can you commit to 45 minutes a week of working on yourself? There is no right answer, but the one that works for you. Ultimately, your therapist just wants you to grow and get to a place where you can live an authentic life that you want to lead.

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