Starting Therapy: What You Need to Know

Therapy can feel like a huge step. Especially if it is your first time in therapy. You might be wondering what you can expect from your first session, or even if your problems are "big enough" to need therapy.

We have put together a list of commonly questions asked by new clients and have asked our Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, Margarita Amparo (AMFT 150801) for her perspective. Margarita is passionate about working with adults, couples, and children. She works from a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approach to empower meaningful change. She provides therapy in both English and Spanish to people working through grief, anxiety, OCD, depression, and life transitions. She has left a positive impact on the lives of countless clients through her work as a therapist.

Let's dive in and hear from Margarita!

1. How do I know if I am ready to start therapy?

You are likely ready to start therapy if you are in search of coping skills, tired of overthinking, feeling stuck, experiencing interpersonal conflict, dealing with mental health alone, and most importantly because you want to take this courageous step for yourself and your self care.

2. I am feeling really nervous to start therapy. Is this common?

It is normal to feel nervous about starting therapy. As a therapist, I am aware that most clients feel nervous about beginning their journey in therapy. I want you to know that I am here for you and will guide you and support you through the process and help you manage those uncomfortable feelings. Take a deep breath, and remember that therapy will start to feel more comfortable as time goes by.

3. What can I expect from the first session with you?

During the first session, also known as the "intake" or "assessment session," my goal is to get to know you. I will be asking you questions and guilding you to help me understand your needs and goals for therapy. I will be discussing things like what brought you into therapy, if you have had therapy in the past, and your general mood and close relationships, while trying to make you feel safe and comfortable. I will also be reviewing our procedures and what you can expect from future sessions. Our sessions after that initial session, will focus on meeting your personal goals for therapy, building stability, and creating meaningful relationships and experiences.

4. I can't decide if video sessions or in- person sessions are the best fit for me. What are video sessions like?

Video sessions are great for people who would enjoy the flexibility of doing therapy from home or a safe location. The sessions are through a HIPAA compliant plateform, which is easily accessible. Like in- person sessions, video sessions include an education element, where I will share my screen to discuss topics, such as practicing coping skills. During video sessions, I include journaling, visualization exercises, art, somatic exercises, and many other modalities, as I would for in- person sessions. Also, with a video sessions, I am able to track changes in body language, breathing, tone, eye contact among other things, which is very important while I do therapy to make sure my clients are feeling safe to be open and volenurable during session. Video sessions might not be the best fit for everyone and you always have the option to change your mind later on.

5. What if I don't know exactly what I want to work on in therapy?

Therapy is the perfect place to explore what you need as an individual. It is okay to not know what you would like to work on. That's where I come in as the therapist! In therapy, I will have small quizzes and assessments depending on each individual's unique needs. I will help you build an understanding of your strengths, and empower you to explorer different parts of your life and identify what is currently serving you and what might no longer be helpful or benefitial to you.

6. If someone is still trying to decide if they are ready to start therapy, what is something you would want to say to them?

You do not need to be in crisis to begin therapy. In fact, many people start therapy because they are feeling stuck, or simply tired of carrying things alone. Therapy isn't about being 'broken' or having all the answers, it is about having a space where you can explore what is going on, gain clarity, and decide what changes you want to make. If you are considering therapy, that curiosity may be telling you something important. You can simply take the first step to schedule a free consultation with me and find out if it feels right for you.

Book a Free Consultation with Margarita!