Even in treatment, you might not vibe with the therapist you are given by your treatment team. Follow your intuition when you know you would prefer to be working with someone else. Therapy is a personal journey you are taking with another person. Finding the right person can take time, but it is time well spent.
It’s Okay Not To Click With A Therapist On The First Day
That first therapy session can be a little awkward. Here you sit in front of a complete stranger to whom you are going to be granting access to the deepest parts of your mind. The first session is always a little bit awkward. Tell me about yourself and why you think you need to be in therapy. It’s a long story, isn’t it? You won’t be getting all the revealing answers, breakthroughs, and solutions you are looking for on the first day. Have patience.
It’s Okay Not To Click With A Therapist On The Next Day
After one or two sessions, you will just know that this therapist isn’t meant for you. It might take more time. Therapy is supposed to work for you and with you. If you don’t feel you can work with a therapist and that the therapy sessions aren’t working for you, it is perfectly okay to let a therapist know and to ask for recommendations to see someone else. Before quitting cold turkey, you can work with your current therapist to define some goals and what you’re looking for. Of course, if the situation is too tense for you, it’s okay to cancel and not show up, then continue your search.
Define What You’re Going To Therapy For
You might not know, and that’s okay too. Sometimes people have a distinct reason for going to therapy, like working through a breakup, getting through and addiction, grieving a loss, or exploring long standing behaviors attached to old memories and beliefs. Other times, people just know that something is wrong, something has been wrong, and something has to be done about it. When your therapist asks you why are you here you don’t have to have a clear answer. You know you need to be there. More will be revealed.
Finding a therapist or making the call to go to treatment for a drug and alcohol addiction doesn’t make you a failure. It makes you a winner. At Design For Change, our long term tiered treatment programs are helping clients create change in their lives, one step at a time. For more information, call us today at (877) 267-3646.
