[lastyearisblank]

I just had my first visit. I am feeling upset like I did a bad job at it. Now I am really nervous.

First of all the guy asked me all these questions, some of which made me feel so defensive that I couldn't answer. It wasn't anything he asked, it was just that he was staring at me. I felt like he was definitely judging me. I didn't like it when he said, "what are you thinking?"/ "Where did your mind go just then?" I didn't have a good answer.

I wanted to know if he had impressions but said that it would take another visit to get a clearer picture.

This person said that it might not be worth beginning treatment since I will be moving in a few months. But that it might be helpful to have weekly discussions about my issues (??)

Does this sound legit/ like a good start? I am confused right now especially about the "beginning treatment" vs. "talking" thing... This is at a health clinic by the way.

[sittingatwatersedge]

what would you have to lose by "having discussions" for a while before you move, if it's in your budget ?- the least it might come to is to organize your thoughts toward a time after your move when you look for a therapist?

Hopefully you won't spend a lot of time wondering if you did OK. When someone you don't know is boring into you with his eyes and asking you a lot of probing questions, it's tough going for anyone.

about this >> I wanted to know if he had impressions
I thought this was excellent; you had a lot of courage and self-possession to ask that question (I could never have done it).

[Perna]

Therapy treatment is a relationship with the therapist whereas talking about your issues is just that, concentrating on the issues and how others cope with ones like them, instead of dealing with how you feel you did a bad job in a therapy session.

By the way, you didn't do a bad job; it was the first session and you've never done that before so you can't be as "perfect" as you'd like at it yet It's okay not to be able to answer someone else's questions, especially very personal ones.

[SpiritRunner]

I think you did well! And your feelings are understandable - I felt sort of like I was under a microscope my 1st session with my T, not like I was being judged, but like I was being examined! But then, I was examining her too, to see if I really could talk to her, trust her....so it goes both ways. And it takes more than one visit to really get a fair balanced assessment of each other.....so keep that in mind, too, and give this a shot to see how it develops! Even just 'having discussions' or getting a little support each week might be beneficial to you, too.....to prepare you for more in-depth treatment after you move and could really settle into something deeper....
Good luck!

[ladyjrnlist]

It always starts out with those types of questions. He's just trying to draw you out. He doesn't know enough about you yet, that's all. Keep working at it. It will get easier as the relationship develops.

[sunrise]

Originally Posted by lastyearisblank

This person said that it might not be worth beginning treatment since I will be moving in a few months. But that it might be helpful to have weekly discussions about my issues (??)

Does this sound legit/ like a good start? I am confused right now especially about the "beginning treatment" vs. "talking" thing... This is at a health clinic by the way.

Can you ask him what he means by treatment vs. talking? In my therapy, talking is the main treatment. There are other sorts of treatment in therapy too, like EMDR and exposure therapy. Definitely worth asking him what he meant!

I can understand that a person might be reluctant to begin therapy if they knew they were moving in a few months, because sometimes a person can grow close to their therapist, even in a short time, and then it would be hard to say good-bye. So maybe this is what he meant. But if you really need help now, then it seems like it would be worth it to take advantage of his help and support.

It sounds like you did great your first session! If there are questions he asks that you don't want to answer, you can just say that you would rather not answer that at this time. That gives him valuable information too.

Good luck.

[lastyearisblank]

whew! thank you all. i am more relieved now. i can only hope this therapist is as nice as all these responses. hope i can get up the courage to actually find out more next time (yes, i'm going to go back!)

about this >> I wanted to know if he had impressions
I thought this was excellent; you had a lot of courage and self-possession to ask that question (I could never have done it).

thank you for this. just, thank you. the truth is, i struggle so much with negative feedback. but i figure if i can get a concrete diagnosis from this guy, then maybe i can just cut and run..

[sailboat]

Haa, I remember my first appt with T. I came home and said "I'm never going back, this woman is not nice."
She was just fine but she did gave me homework that scared the living daylight out of me so I tried to run. My parents convinced me to go back though and I'm pretty sure it was the right thing to do.

Don't worry if you feel like you did a poor job, I'm sure you were very normal and fine. I didn't answer everything either. I mean, what can they expect. You hold onto your things for such a long time and then just because someone asks, you let it all out? No way!

[lastyearisblank]

Thanks again for the replies. I went back. "Treatment" means meds-- ugh.