New Delhi (India), September 13: There’s nothing braver than asking for help. If you are struggling and have decided to seek professional help, be proud of yourself because you are prioritizing and choosing yourself already and choosing your healing.

Therapy is not an easy ride, so if you are nervous about embarking on your first therapy session, be assured that you aren’t alone. From checking online platforms to checking betterhelp reviews, there is a lot that goes into planning for your first therapy session.

To make the process easier on you, we have shortlisted all the top factors you should prioritize before you book your session with a professional therapist for the first time.

1.  Identify your goals

What are you considering therapy for? Why do you want to consult a therapist? These are questions that you need to answer in your mind before you embark on your first therapy session.

Identifying your goals from the therapy before the actual session also helps you schedule the session with a professional who is experienced and specializes in the niche in which you are looking for support.

For example, if you want therapy to heal from trauma, stress, and anxiety, you’d have to find therapists who specialize in these areas so they can provide you with tools that will help you overcome the challenges you are experiencing.

2.  Research therapists around

When researching for therapists to schedule sessions with, you also have to prioritize how you want to take the session.

For example, do you want the session to be online via Zoom or Google Meet or do you want the session to be face-to-face? Determining the mode of communication for the session also helps you find a therapist who can accommodate your needs.

When researching for therapist for sessions, you also need to consider factors such as their credentials, experience, and approach to therapy. The best way to check things is on the internet. You can read the online reviews and even seek recommendations from people you know.

3.  Therapeutic approach

The next factor to consider is the therapeutic approach. There are a variety of treatment or therapy options, including:

•  Cognitive-behavioral therapy

•  Psychodynamic therapy

•  Mindfulness-based therapy, etc.

Depending on your requirements and comfort, you can have an initial discussion with potential therapists to see what would work best for you. At the end of the day, whichever route you choose should be comfortable for you.

4.  Financial Considerations

The availability of a therapy session is not cheap. So, when you are considering scheduling your first therapy session, we’d 100% recommend that you consider your budget and insurance coverage.

There are instances where certain insurance policies don’t cover therapy costs and you might have to pay for the sessions out of pocket. And, since these individual sessions are quite expensive, you must have an open and transparent conversation with your insurance provider to see what the status is.

If the insurance providers confirm that your policy covers the therapy session costs, you can go ahead and schedule your first session without any hesitations. However, if the insurance covers the cost partially or doesn’t cover it at all, you might have to assess your options depending on your financial situation.

5.  Accessibility and location

Therapy can be done in multiple ways. For example, it can be done online via a video conferencing platform or it can be done in person, face to face.

If you are choosing the latter option, prioritizing accessibility and location is mandatory. What you want to cross-check are:

•  Is the practice of your therapist located in an accessible area from where you live?

•  How far of a drive will it be for you to reach the therapist's office?

•  Is the office accessible by public transportation?

If you find that the answers to all these above questions are not to your liking, it means that you have to look at a different therapist.

6.  Comfort and compatibility

Not every therapist you work with will be your favorite. However, when it's your first time scheduling a therapy session, you want that first experience to feel safe and non-judgemental.

The therapeutic relationship is a critical factor in the effectiveness of therapy. It's essential to feel comfortable and safe with your therapist. During your initial consultation, pay attention to how you feel when talking to the therapist.

If you feel uncomfortable or out of place during the first session, it means that it's time to change things and switch to a new therapist instead. Sometimes, you should trust your instincts and do what your gut feeling says.

7.  Confidentiality and privacy

Therapy sessions are confidential, and therapists are bound by ethical guidelines to protect your privacy. This is something that you need to be aware of. As someone who’s in the process of scheduling their first therapy session, worried that your trauma will be a point of discussion in the public is a common fear.

However, you can rest easy knowing that won’t be happening if you are scheduling your session with a reputable and reliable therapist.

Knowing that your discussions will remain confidential can help you open up and share your thoughts and feelings more freely.

8.  Openness to change

Opting for therapy is taking that first step towards embracing change in your life. When you are in the process of booking your first session, consider your readiness to confront and address personal issues.

Therapy is not an easy process and you might have to confront your traumas and difficult emotions to overcome them in the future. Are you willing to embark on such a healing and transformative journey?

Conclusion

Scheduling your first therapy session can be daunting and comes with a lot of challenges and inhibitions. If you are in the process of taking that first step, praise yourself a little and pat yourself on the back. Your healing journey starts now. If you need to take some time to research a good therapist in your area or find someone who specializes in issues you are struggling with, take that time. 
(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PNN. PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.)