[Melmo]

I finally got in to see a therapist, and had my first appt a few weeks ago. I was looking foreword to it and it didn't take long before I wanted to get out of there. She told me that I get about 12 sessions f therapy, which kind of took me by surprise because its like, well what if I'm still messed up at the end of 12 session? And then she asked me what I wanted to get out of therapy. All I could think of was "to not be mentally ill." It's like, how do I answer that question? My next appt is in 2 days and I'm supposed to have an answer. I still don't know.

[herethennow]

Some therapists do contracts. Mine did, and we recontracted. Now we don't really have a "number of sessions" so we're just going with the flow... You should ask her what happens after the fixed number of therapy sessions, does she terminate or does she recontract?

Haha I get those questions too.. and my mind would answer the same as you I will really say that and T would just ask me "what does being normal look like to you?" Maybe you could think along the lines of what caused your depression? Maybe coping skills, or better ways of handling stress..

[freefallin]

I hate that question so much. I don't know what I want other than to not be miserable anymore.

[Altered Moment]

Isn't that a valid answer though? The whole reason I am doing all this crap is so I am not depressed anymore. Or anxious or whatever.

[glok]

“A treatment plan is a written plan created by a therapist and patient that is used as a guide to how therapy should ideally proceed in order to address clinical and any other relevant life issues. It is central to effective therapy.”

Hello, JustWantToBeNormal. These sources may be helpful:

Psychotherapy - Psych Central
How to Engage in Meaningful, Successful Psychotherapy - Wellsphere
5 Things Not to Worry About in Therapy | World of Psychology
6 Ways to Open Up and Talk in Therapy | World of Psychology

The therapist's question might relate to the treatment plan and requirements of any insurance provider.

My suggestion is for you to write down the problems you are experiencing like changes in sleep patterns, whether you have stopped doing things you usually enjoy doing, whether you have thought about harming yourself, whether your current state of mind has made any relationship more difficult, whether you have gained or lost weight, etc.

Improving your ability to overcome or at least better cope with these problems is what you hope to accomplish in therapy.

Good luck.

[Altered Moment]

On my most recent treatment plan I put
"To learn to live within the bounds of my limitations."

I used to always put. I want to be cured of my depression. I realized even though that was an obvious answer it was not realistic.