I am curious if people prepare for their sessions in any way? Do you do anything to get ready for the discussion?

I usually take 5 to 10 mins to think, write down what I want to talk about and say a quick prayer for T, me and the session. Sometimes when we are talking about difficult things I have pushed it very far from myself during the week. Sometimes I can't even connect with a text I may have sent earlier in the week. It seems far away. Rarely do I journal before even though it sometimes does bring me back into a serious, deep talk space. Do you try to prepare for the continuation of difficult discussions? Do others do anything right before your session? What do you do (or not do) and why?

[Brown Owl 2]

I read through my notes from the previous session, and plan what I want to talk about. I often focus on what emotion the previous session brought up, or if I’m feeling confident I carry on telling my T things about my life that I haven’t talked to her about before.

[Lostislost]

I really try to. Sometimes I think, can I just go to therapy and talk properly for once, form sentences and just say what I mean...but I always go and then I never manage it.

Sometimes I have stuff planned that I want to say, but once I see him sitting there I realise I can't say it after all.

When it's nice weather I try to get there early so I can sit in a near by park for a bit, that seems to help with the anxiety.

[ArtleyWilkins]

I wasn't one to usually plan what I wanted to talk about. Sometimes I did, but most of the time we sort of landed on what to discuss organically. We had a routine of checking in - what was my depression level? how have I been sleeping? etc. etc., and most of the time that check in had a way of landing on just the right topic at the right time. There were times I had something specific on my mind that still came up in that check in, but that was about all the planning I put into it.

[SlumberKitty]

I usually do not do much to prepare for my session. I get there a little early to try to curb the anxiety but that's about it. Usually my T starts off by asking me the same questions and we kind of spin off from there. If there is something that I am wanting to bring up I will bring it up during the first half of the appointment so that way there is plenty of time to discuss it.

[stopdog]

I used to throw up before each appointment. That was about as prepared as it got because I never understood what was supposed to be happening and the ones I hired were crap at explaining

[*Beth*]

When we had f2f sessions I always arrived early so I could use the bathroom, say hi to the 2 receptionists who I have a nice rapport with, and just sit quietly for a few minutes before session.

Now with teletherapy I have to set up my camera and audio, close the curtains in the room where I do therapy, get some water to drink during the session. 5 minutes prior I sit quietly in my chair and practice good breathing.

When f2f or tele I wear something presentable and make sure my hair looks decent.

I prepare. I write short notes about what has emerged during the week or as a result of our previous session. I spend time alone and have conversations with her in my head. I sit and wait to see if new things become important. I reflect, I try to incorporate the work into my life, and I consider those things which make me the most uncomfortable.

And then the session starts and I forget all of my work. I become a dunderhead and tell her I am fine, whatever. And so we continue on.

[nottrustin]

I usually think about what I am going to talk a about, I plan the topic and of it is a difficult topic, I plan what I will say and possible what questions she will ask so I can k ow how to answer. Before Covid I woidl stop and get either tea or coffee at my favorite coffee shop and listen to relaxing music during my drive.

Since Covid I still leave work early as if I was driving the distance. I go home make some tea and sit quietly in my therapy room. I will usually will play a computer word game.

[ScarletPimpernel]

L and I come up with a session plan a few days before session. Most of the format is the same. When we do in-person, we try to focus on the hefe and now so that I have better object constancy. Many times we play games during in-person sessions. We also plan out what we're going to talk about. Our plans are basically backup plans. If something else arises, we switch our focus to that..

I think I don't prepare much because I'm emailing L a lot during the week, so she already knows my needs and wants.

[ChickenNoodleSoup]

I think about what I'd like to talk about (usually that starts as soon as we've had our previous session, I think about it for the whole week with breaks in between of course). On the day of the session, I have to travel there, I eat lunch, go to the bathroom.

[ArtieTheSequal]

Back when my dreams were longer and more convoluted, I would always type them up and print them before a session so I could bring a copy with me for her to read along while I read them out loud (we do a lot of dream work). I don't do that anymore; in the last couple of months my dreams have changed and are now quite short and pretty straight-forward, so I don't worry about typing them up anymore. Beyond that, I do think about what I want to talk about as I'm going to sleep the night before.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by ArtieTheSequal

Back when my dreams were longer and more convoluted, I would always type them up and print them before a session so I could bring a copy with me for her to read along while I read them out loud (we do a lot of dream work). I don't do that anymore; in the last couple of months my dreams have changed and are now quite short and pretty straight-forward, so I don't worry about typing them up anymore. Beyond that, I do think about what I want to talk about as I'm going to sleep the night before.

Bringing the copy for her, too, is a really good idea.

[Aviza]

I don't prepare, my arhms worker has said i need to discuss certain things in therapy. I always forget. I might remember this week. Just go in and she'll bring up topics. I rarely go deep. I might but it's pointless just drums up bad feelings.

[RoxanneToto]

Just freak out with nerves, even though my sessions have gone well so far. Mind you, I’m always nervous about going out to do something unless it’s shopping.
First time I met my T face to face this week - I studied Google maps last week, and had the sat nav on in my car, but still had a hard time finding her house!

[Lostislost]

After reading this thread I thought it would be a good idea to make a list of things I wanted to discuss in therapy at my session. It did not go well...I felt detached. when time was up he asked me, ‘did you get through your list?’ Eugh. I just want to be able to connect with him while I'm there and not be a waste of time.

[abigail wenderson]

I usually try to note down important points from previous sessions, which helps me overcome my anxiety.

[just2b]

I try to be late as she always is by a minute or 2. have coffee or tea, close curtain, sign on, and wait for the butterflies to pass

[daisydid]

My therapist is a big proponent of homework, so I'll spend some time between sessions doing the homework that I've been assigned. Usually, the homework is to do some bit of journaling, do something with my husband, or most often, engage in some fun activity.