Apprehensive About Counseling?

Have you thought about talking to someone but just don't know where to start or what it all looks like?

It can be really stressful starting something new, even if you know it will be good for you. It can also be really scary starting something when you have no idea what to expect.

So what should you expect if you are looking to start a counseling relationship?

First things first, do a little research about payment options. Do you work for an employer who has an EAP (Employee Assistance Program)? An EAP will help pay for some of your counseling expenses. Most times, the EAP will pay for 5-10 sessions depending on the plan. Does your insurance cover any costs for mental health care? If you have to pay anything out of pocket, how much can you afford? There are some agencies that will work on a sliding fee scale and will base your cost on how much you can afford to pay. They will typically base this on a recent pay stub. If you simply cannot afford anything out of pocket, you may want to reach out to your local health department and see if they offer any services free of charge.

Next, think about what you want in a counselor. Just like interviewing for a job, you can interview different counselors. What is the main issue you would like to focus on? Figuring this out might help you narrow down your search when you are looking for a counselor. The counseling field is very vast but most therapists either specialize or have a type of client they feel most comfortable working with. Once you have narrowed down what you are looking for, you can research different therapists. Psychology Today has a great search tool on their website and you can search for verified therapists in your area. Then you can look through each and see who specializes in the area where you are looking to get help.

Making that initial call can sometimes be the hardest part. However, that first phone call is not a therapy session and is intended mostly as a time for collecting information. They will ask you what your presenting problem is ~ this just means what are you wanting to get help for. If you haven't narrowed down anything super specific, that is ok! It's ok to say that you are simply looking for someone to talk with about everyday life issues. They will ask you about payment options and explain to you their billing and scheduling processes. If you are calling an agency/practice as opposed to an individual counselor, they may ask more personal preference questions in an attempt to match you with the right therapist for you.

Other question that people have is what all those initials mean after a therapist's name? Which one is right for me and how do I know? The initials are their qualifications and it does help to know what they all mean and it can be very confusing just seeing a bunch of letters after someone's name! I have a breakdown of all the different abbreviations in another article here.

Once you have chosen a counselor, it's time for your first session. This can also be intimidating because you don't know what to expect. The great thing about counselors though, is that the want you to feel comfortable and at ease in talking with them. It is very likely that their office space will be very inviting and calming. There may be soft, soothing music playing. There will likely be comfortable seating and an overall welcoming ambiance. This is all purposeful because we want you to feel safe and comfortable sharing with us what we know you may not be sharing with anyone else. We know how discomforting it can be to talk about your feelings and we try to make the setting of our space together as relaxing as possible.

The first session is going to be mostly a getting to know you experience for both you and the counselor. The counselor wants to know you but they also want you to know them, again so that you feel comfortable. They may ask what you would like to get out of the counseling sessions or what you would like to see in a counselor. Don't feel like you have to have all the answers or know exactly what you want but see this as an opportunity for the counselor to understand what goals you might have for the time you will be spending together.

Overall, the counselor is there to help. It's what we do! We understand that sitting in your seat is difficult. One good thing to remember is that we all became counselors because we want to help people just like you! We don't judge and we pride ourselves on making you feel better, whatever your circumstance might be!

If you still have questions that I did not answer or you are still unsure, feel free to comment or email me nrizziolpc@gmail.com.