[cat_scratch]

I'm seeing my new T for the first time on Tuesday. I was just terminated by my previous T after 9 years. I honestly cannot remember how I started opening up with what my issues are. I'm sure I'm not unique when I say exposing what I consider to be my weaknesses (depression, anxiety) to a stranger is not easy for me. I had been with my old T for so long that when I had a session, she'd just usually sit back and let me go off on a tangent about whatever was bothering me that week and she'd reign me in to start discussing what we can do about it. I know I can't just go into a new T and start ranting.

When you start a new relationship, how do you structure the "why am I here?" to a new T?

Hope my question makes sense.... it sounded much more elegant when I was thinking about posting it while in shower this morning!

[Leah123]

lol about the shower- I always sound better in there too

Good for you for picking up and finding a new T!

I find that I do better letting them get a sense of my strenghts and weaknesses together. If I go in and just fall apart, telling the story of all my flaws and horrific bits of my history,

a. It's uncomfortable, hard to be emotionally present, and hard to make a connection while spewing

b. It only gives them part of the story, for although we're there to explore and heal the problems, we can't do it properly if they don't see all my successes and strengths too.

So, if it were me going in, I would talk as if I were meeting a teacher for the first time, one on one- a mentor. I'd talk about things I'm comfortable with, like my work and interests, and I'd also mention my key issues, but in a more general way, kind of... resume style, keep it to one page, ya know?

That's not elegant at all as I've explained it, but... hope it helps a bit. My main thought is, don't pressure yourself in session one- performance anxiety rarely helps.

[Perna]

I think you just start talking, kind of like you did with your old T and new T should either stop you or listen all the way through and then say something. I saw my T for 9 years then did not see her for 9 then saw her again for another 9; the second time I went in there and just "unloaded" and that was fine, swamped the heck out of her just like I was feeling she said.

[Salmon77]

When I started therapy I made a list of all the reasons I was there and things that I thought I should talk about. Both so I'd know what to say and also because I felt (still sometimes feel) somewhat unsure if I actually needed to go. But the first session was mostly formalities, family history and all that.

[Auntie2014]

You might want to make a list of things you want to be sure to work on but I suggest you just follow the leader with what new T does.They all have a different way of doing things and need some background info. If you know you work better just talking or having little assignments each week let the new T know that fairly soon in the first session. Then you will want to know the "rules" regarding out of session contact and other boundaries. That should cover first session.

[RTerroni]

Just state why you're in Therapy and what the goals you want to accomplish are.

[OneWorld]

I am here because I am having trouble with _____ and it affects my life in these ways: _____. I have tried ____ to address the issues. Through therapy, I hope to be able to ____.

If you can fill in those blanks for her, I bet she'll take it from there.

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