What happens in therapy?
So you're curious about getting therapy? Or maybe you've taken the leap and already booked in your first session! But what even happens in therapy?
The therapy room can be a mysterious place for those who haven't been before. There's lots of inaccurate representations on TV and all that confidentiality around sessions (necessary for your privacy and comfort) also means it can be hard to know what to expect when you walk into the room.
While every therapist will have different styles and processes, here are some things you can expect to experience no matter who you're seeing
The goal of the first 1-3 sessions is usually for your therapist to develop their understanding of what's going on for you currently, who you are, and some of your history. You will speak about what’s brought you to therapy. You might also talk about things like your relationships, family, mental and physical health history, work/school and what your therapeutic goals are. This is also a time to get to know your therapist, get a feel for their style and work out if they are a good fit for you.
Following sessions will focus more actively on your goals and vary depending on what you're working on, they may include things like:
understanding what you’re experiencing and what’s contributing to this
learning new skills and ways of thinking
challenging unhelpful beliefs
planning how to change certain behaviours
participating in imagery exercises or behavioural experiments
amongst many more options!
Some sessions may involve lots of talking and reflecting, some sessions may involve experiential exercises or activities. Different things work for different people and discussing how your sessions are run with your therapist is important. Hate worksheets? Tell your therapist. Don't understand why your therapist focussing on something? Ask them! Feel like your therapist's approach isn't working? Tell them!
Therapy is a collaborative and individualised process; your preferences matter, you don't have to do/talk about things you aren't comfortable with, and your therapist will work with you to find a process that works for YOU.
Written by Madeleine Holland (Registered Psychologist)
