anyone ever been to therapy? what was it like?

Question

my family tells me i should go to "therapy" for my issues i have. what do they do? what is it like? is it weird?

Answer 1

I know going to therapy for the first time can be really scary. Therapists know this too. They do their best to try and make you comfortable.

These days most therapy takes place sitting up, not lying down like in old cartoons. ;-) Every therapist I've been to has an office that looks a bit like a living room. A couch, some chairs, maybe a coffee or end table. Most try to make the room look and feel comfortable.

Often therapists will have you fill out some forms, basic name address type info. If you go with your parents they may fill this out for you. Sometimes the form will ask the reason you are seeing a therapist. You can write a brief recap of your "issues" or you can just write "not sure". It's not your job to diagnose yourself.

There may also be a check list type form that asks questions like "have you felt down lately" "do you have trouble concentrating at work or school" etc. Just answer as best you can. It's just a guide for the therapist. Nothing is written in stone.

In the first session the therapist will probably try to get to know you a little bit and figure out what types of issues you're there for. They'll usually ask questions and it's ok if you're nervous or if your answers are short to begin with. It's their job to draw you out. Just do your best to answer honestly.

At first therapy is a little weird. You're disucssing really personal things with someone you've just met. After a couple sessions if this thearpist is a good match for you then you'll start to feel much more comfortable.

I've been to three different therapists and each time I was nervous meeting someone new (that's me, I'm pretty shy), but after a few times it was really great to go there and get everything out and the therapist very often came up with great ideas to help me make my life better.

I hope therapy goes well for you. Give it a try, I really think you'll be happy you did.

Answer 2

No experience will be exactly the same because therapy techniques differ. If you decide you need help with your "issues", a psychologist may be the right one for you. (I have no idea what those "issues" may be) At your consultation visit, most likely your therapist will introduce him- or herself. Ask you to talk about yourself. Get to know you a bit and then ask you how you feel about different things, do you like school, do you have many friends, what do you like to do for fun, and so forth. Be honest. If the therapist decides that sessions can proceed, you'll schedule for one or two days a week (varies depending on your needs) for regular sessions. Nothing scary or weird happens. The therapist may want you to try a different behavior. You can say what's on your mind without fear of punishment or judgement. You can cry, scream or laugh if that's what you feel. You may learn things about yourself that you have avoided all along. I hope you'll find it an enormous relief to unburden yourself. And if you find you & the therapist just don't hit it off, you can change therapists.

Answer 3

i have been going to a therapist for 10 years and b/c of how my therapist helped me i am actually getting my phd in clinical psychology. there are a lot of bad therapists out there so make sure that when you go to on you feel comfortablel. I think that if after the 2nd time you see a therapist you should feel some type of comfort. If you don't like their style etc. switch. Shop around for a good one. Therapy can be awsome. My therapist has given me the tools to be able to strenghten some weaknesses of mine. It is also great to get an objective opinion. Now i just go to mine b/c i enjoy his advice. it is worth going. if after 6 month you do not feel an improvment than you need to switch therapists. It may feel uncomfortable the 1st few times in therapy but w/a good therapist it shouldn't. e-mail me if you have more?

Answer 4

First off, it isn't wierd, lot's of people go to therapy from reasons such as paranoia, depression, ocd, phobias, sexual problems, marriage issues, anything imaginable. It's becoming more common place, but there is still alot of stigma about it, that it makes you a 'freak' if you go, or that there is something wrong with you. All those things are completely false by the way. Anyways, at my counseling sessions my counselor was really nice and understanding. And he didn't just sit there and say "how did that make you feel" like you see on tv and stuff. He gave input and asked questions and all sorts of things. He was very patient as it took a while for me to get comftorable around him. Most therapists just try to help you understand whatever is going on with you, and to help you eventually correct any problems. It can be hards some times (thinking about how you feel can be very hard) but in my experience they can be very helpful and kind. And most counsellors are not judgemental (if one is, they are'nt very good at it), and try to help you and understand you. As for if it was wierd or not... i felt a little akward at times when i was talking about how i felt and stuff, but it wasn't that wierd. I felt comftorable around him, and if i didn't really talk much in a session he would get out some cards for us to play with so i would be more comftorable (I was 15 by the way). He mostly just asked me questions and tried to help me. It wasn't that wierd, and it was helpful. If you are considering therapy i would recommend it, it can be a great assest. Most counsellors are very proffesional and nice, and they understand how you feel usually. So, my point i guess is just that you should give counselling a shot, it can really help if you are willing to try.

Answer 5

I would run as fast as you can to get to one. I use to think it was weird to.! At first I didnt like it, I didnt like the person I was talking to. In fact I walked out and said to myself this is stupid. never went back.
Then years later I tried again, saw one lady, she would just look at me hardly say anything. I was mad, so I changed and found another lady. This one was talking to me. what a diffrence. when they talk to you like a normal person.YA! I was hooked man I couldnt wait to see her again. It was fun. Oh my God. She really helped me. I must have told her every thing. Ya, every thing.
Its so much fun. And then I just got tiered of seeing her and I stopped. Some days I laugh because I think of the things I have said. Short term therapy is healthy, some one told me. If you go to long, I think then you just beat things in the ground to long.
Try it , you have nothing to lose.

Answer 6

i been to a really good thrapist about 4 time he really didnt solve my problem.your asking what therapy is like..ok first you tell your problems to the thrapist than he listen to it and than he sugget you how to hang on and how to control your feelings he also suggest you the solution of your problems..but as far as i think you should solve your issues yourself because sometimes these thrapist cant even solve your problems..but if you feel that you need help from thrapist than you can go..and yes its lil weird not that weird but a lil weird..

Answer 7

i have been to therapy, and i still go occasionally when i need to. for your first time going it's required that your parents sit in with you, after that you chose if they do or not. at first the therapist will basically just ask question about you. what you like to do, your personality. about your friends, if you have friends you can trust to talk to. past events. just randomness. it gets better, and it helps to have someone to talk to, sometimes all you need is just someone to talk to, someone to listen to what you have to say.

Answer 8

The best way, I learned to have fun,without feeling weird, bad , or leftout is, group therapy. It's fun!

Answer 9

I actually just went the other day for the very first time and I felt awkward but after a lil bit I felt better. All they do is listen and its great.

Answer 10

it is not so bad.. they try to figure out what is wrong with you, they ask you questions and you answer them... it is pretty cool sometimes, but sometimes they can really tick you off