Posted by llrrrpp on June 7, 2006, at 8:05:36
In reply to Re: My first T appt » curtm, posted by annierose on June 7, 2006, at 6:38:13
The first appt. is also a good chance to ask about things like
1) What approach they use with clients (Cognitive Behavioral, etc)
2) Whether they are comfortable using a different approach if their primary approach isn't working well for a client (i.e. how flexible are they?)
3) How many times a week you should go
4) Whether they are planning on moving out of the area in the next yearI'm sure there are others. This first meeting is the best chance for you to get answers to these questions. You are a consumer, and you have certain powers. In later sessions, you may find yourself asking these questions, and the answers may not be so easy to come by
i.e. 4) Whether they are planning on moving out of the area in the next year
"Why do you ask that"
umm, because I need to know
"If I tell you that I'm going to be around, how does it make you feel?"
umm, it makes me feel like you never answered my question...and so on.
I'm so impressed that you're taking this step. Remember that the T is there for you to unload anything and everything that you've ever wanted to say. Stuff that might rock the boat in your other relationships. Stuff that you'd never say to your friends and family because you didn't want them to think you were ____. It's a rare and special opportunity.
It's taken me a couple of months to get into a groove with my T. We didn't click so well at the beginning, because I found him so intimidating. I found the whole therapy process incredibly frightening and he acquired Hannibal Lecter-like characteristics in my mind. But now things are getting to a point where I know what he's going to throw at me, and I know why he's asking the questions he does.
Anyways, be honest with Curt, and the other Curt too. :)
Be honest about when something is working for you, and also honest when something is not working for you. When have you ever had the opportunity to be completely, 100% honest with no consequences (except psychological discomfort, that is...)?
Good luck,
I'll be thinking of you :)
-llrrrpp
poster:llrrrpp
thread:653837
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20060604/msgs/653964.html