Deciding to meet with a therapist takes great courage. It begins with first acknowledging a problem area in your life and recognizing the benefit of having someone work with you to find ways to address the problem. Therapy is not a means to FIX anyone's problem, so beware any such guarantee. The potential benefits are having the opportunity to ventilate your feelings in a non-judgmental-person-centered atmosphere. Your therapist can normalize your feelings, putting at ease the worry that you are the only one who feels the way you do; while you learn to put your feelings into words. Lastly, your therapist can work with you to develop strategies to reach your agreed upon therapy goals; i.e, being assertive, coping with depression, reducing anxiety.
Once you've made the decision to see a therapist, completed your research, and made an appointment, here's a list of ways to prepare for your initial/intake session.
If you have participated in tx in the past, have the contact info and dates of past treatment on hand
If you have received psychiatric medication in the past, prescribed by a psychiatric provider or a PCP, have the name and dosage of those medications available.
Contact information/ID
Emergency Contact
Referral source
Payment, or Insurance Card
Journal or notebook to record affirmations, resources, homework, tasks etc ( suggested)
An open mind
The last item on the list is one of the most important; therapy is only effective if you have an expectation it will be useful for you. Going with a cynical attitude, or expectation of immediate results will cause you disappointment, as it may take a period of time to develop a rapport with your therapist and before you notice changes in your problem area ( highly likely not the problem but how you cope with it.) Therapists are trained to deal with resistance and reluctance, but keep in mind, the therapist's role is to guide you on your path, and while they are the coach, you are expected to bring your A-game as well.
Here are a few directory sites to find a therapist to best suit your needs:
2. The Association of Black Psychologists or www.abpsi.org
8. Your insurance referral services- it beats foraging through a directory book or site
Not a therapy directory but this site directs you to NYC mental health treatment resources:
9. https://humanrights.weill.cornell.edu/resources/mental-health-resources-nyc
10. https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us/en/
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