It’s the day of your first therapy appointment. You are nervous and unsure what your therapist is going to ask you. You are taking a brave step forward to get help, but you are nervous to start. Will your therapist know everything about you with a few short questions?
You want to look put together, so you grab your best shirt and try it on. Then you wonder if this looks like you are trying too hard, so you switch it out to something more casual and down to earth. What shoes should you wear that communicate you have it together, but you are not trying too hard to impress? This goes on for a while – switching around outfits hoping to make the right impression with your therapist.
Does this sound familiar? If so, you are not alone.
I am always amazed when my clients tell me they put a lot of thought into what they wear to their therapy appointment. Some clients look like they have it all put together. Other clients tell me they really tried, then gave up and wore sweats and a tee shirt.
I want to let you in on 3 secrets to put your mind at ease.
1. Your therapist is human, just like you.
Yes, we have gone to school and been trained to help you through your struggles, but most therapists have had life experiences that propelled them into the field. Behind the clipboard and questions is a person with a heart, a person who has also had struggles in relationships and dealt with anxieties. We are usually ridiculously empathetic people who thrive on connection, but most importantly, we get it. We are real people who also stand in front of the mirror trying on outfits.
2. Our training and experience equip us to help you.
Our training and life experience allow us to put our stuff aside and be present with what you bring to therapy. We can offer a birds-eye view of the situation to help you see the changes that are both necessary and possible. Our trained knowledge will guide you from where you are to where you want to be. We skillfully walk alongside you every step of the way.
3. We want freedom and healing for you.
We are your biggest cheerleaders. I know it is scary walking through those doors, but on the other side is a therapist with empathy, understanding and expertise. My hope is you will experience freedom as you unburden what is happening in your life and begin the brave act of coming to therapy. You will experience a safe place to open up, with all the complexities of what it means to be human. We can even laugh together at the effort it takes to decide what to wear along the way!
Learn more about Lee Dudley or schedule a therapy appointment with one of our licensed therapists at LiveFree Counseling. Please call 720.465.6180 for more information.
