[bowhunt72]

I've been looking for a new T and I think I might have found a good one. She was recommended to me by a friend from a support group. When I called, her office staff was friendly and professional and I liked the way they responded to my questions. She even called me back personally to ask about my diagnoses and how I wanted to approach therapy. Sounds good so far.

So I'm trying to prepare for my first appointment with her next week. I don't want to go in with an ironclad list of what we must do, but I don't want to walk in with no direction at all either. So far I'm working on two lists. One is a list of issues I think I need to work on: resolving my feelings for my girlfriend, figuring out what I really want in a marriage or other relationship, self injury, suicide, etc. The other is a list of things I want to learn: better coping skills to avoid or minimize a crisis, how to recognize symptoms of mania and how to stop mania before it gets out of control. Both lists will probably grow as I continue to think and work on them.

What else would you want to have going in to see a new T for the first time? I'm trying to keep in mind that I'm a paying customer wanting to get the most value for my money, but also that I'm a client with serious needs coming to her for her expertise.

I think the way your already sorted this out is pretty good actually. Only so much you can cover in the first app. An I'm sure she will have questions for you as well. Just make sure you hit on the major points that are most important die you first.

Good luck!! I hope she is a great fit!

[BuggsBunny]

I usually have a list of questions for my first appt. Things like which mode of therapy she prefers, what emergency procedures are in place, General questions that help me see if we will mesh, and work well during a crisis. What hospital does she have privileges at, does she know my pdoc and is she willing to work in tandem with him. Does she do inpatient visits, or leave that to the pdoc. What are her panic call policies?

Those are just a random sampling of some of the questions I have asked over the years. Usually, the new T has so many q's for me, I don't get past my first set of questions. We tackle the what I want to accomplish stuff in week two.