I’m Christina Caron, a reporter covering mental health, and I’m filling in for Jance Dunn this week.
When I was in college, I decided to have my first mental health appointment with one of the school’s counselors. I remember very little from that conversation because I was sweating. I also felt that the therapist often brushed off my concerns.
At the time, I didn’t understand that it was okay to push back a little. And the whole experience felt so awkward and uncomfortable that I quit after just a few sessions. My takeaway – I’m sure this wasn’t what the therapist intended, but it was that I needed to toughen up, stuff my worries and squash my fears.
What I’ve come to learn since then, especially now that I’ve reported on mental health, is that treatment can be helpful and even life-changing. However, its success largely depends on the quality of your relationship and communication with your therapist.
If you’re thinking of seeing a therapist this year, or trying to find a new one, I asked a few reputable therapists to share what their clients knew before their first session. I asked.
1. Strong bonds are essential.
Every therapist I’ve consulted has told me that the most important thing to look for when you seek counseling is a “good fit,” or a bond between therapist and client that mental health professionals call a therapeutic alliance. Said.
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