What to Expect During Your First Therapy Session | Kati Morton
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.ย. 2024
- Seeing a Therapist for the first time can be (but shouldn't be) stressful. Some of the questions you might be wondering about are: What do you do at your first therapy session? What questions does a therapist ask? What should I not tell my therapist? Is it okay to cry in therapy? How much should you tell your therapist? What should you tell your first visit to a therapist? How should a therapy session go? Can therapists tell our parents anything?
I'm Kati Morton, a licensed therapist making Mental Health videos!
#katimorton #therapist #therapy
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My first appointment is next week. I’m very nervous! This helped me relax a little knowing what to expect!
My first appointment is next week too. I’m also nervous, but hopeful that it will help me with my anxiety. Good luck at your appointment Tina!
@@cassidyp5455 Mine was moved up to tomorrow!! I'm very hopeful but very nervous because I have social anxiety. Thank you and good luck to you as well!
Guys me too (on Tuesday,) I like the idea of going through therapy because of how much relief I feel from vomitting all my crazy thoughts and worries and sadness on someone who is ready to listen.
(I'm going through anxiety and social anxiety)
update! I loved it. She thought me about the cbt techniques. And tips on what to do when u feel stuck in sadness. I feel hope.
Hey in my expirience going to theraphy is the best defission I've made for my life. I belive you will too..
I've been in therapy for about a month and a half now and i love it!
Not gonna lie, never been as freaked out by the start of a TH-cam video than by this one in which your opening words were literally hi followed by my name.
I can picture it! 😅
as a person who is waiting for his therapy sessions, this really helps me know what to expect. :)
You got this 👍❤️!
Stay patient 👍🙂.
I spent a long time waiting too. Now the NHS have fixed me up with 8 x 30min telephone appointments.
I'm not expecting miracles but talking makes me feel a lot more normal and accepting of myself, instead of writing myself off as a total waste of a human being like usual.
Awe yay!! I am so glad it was helpful :) xoxo
Guy to guy, crazy excited that another man is going to therapy.
Can we just appreciate how good the acting as the patient is! The whole fidgeting, posture, eye contact is so spot on and comforting to see
This is a great video. But one thing I will say to all of you out there waiting to start your first session is that while this is accurate, the first session or two often feel majorly crap. This is because you're sitting in a small room, eye to eye with a complete stranger being super vulnerable. Just remember that it's normal to feel uncomfortable about this! If you can get through the awkward stage and develop a really great therapeutic relationship with your therapist then the sessions can become an amazing source of comfort and growth. So many people quit in the early stages because those first few appointments can be so shit. Try and stick with it though. The hard yards are worth it and so are you!
I'm willing to take therapy but I'm scared I might get a bad impression of my therapist on my first appointment, which makes me feel insecure and not sure if I should do it. This video really helped me out and cleared up my doubts. Thanks.
Could you do a video like that about how you would react if a client got really upset...? Crying/dissociating/ whatever... judgement and fear about that popped up in the Podcast a lot....
I do talk about what I do when a patient dissociates in my most recent video about dissociation :) xoxo
The timing is absolutely perfect for me, not only did I just an hour ago decided to finally go to a therapis but also decided to check out your channel again.
This looked nothing like my first therapy session, I told my psychologist about everything that was bothering me and about my past, to the point she ended up almost crying. I know transference is not good at all, but at least feeling like someone payed attention was good enough... then, again, covid happened and the little process I made last year went downhill... hopefully I will come back this year.
i wish you well
I feel you I made progress in a year and then Covid and other things happened and I feel like my progress went away but things are just hard right now and we will get out of this. Hope is the best thing to have right now
Have you been able to switch to online sessions with your therapist?
@@aubrielle3612 hi, not really, I couldn’t afford it anymore, thankfully I got a job and im saving now, so that is good
@@katherineugalde9146 sure, lets not lost our hope, best of luck on your recovery as well :)
I have been avoiding going to therapy for 4 years now due to fear... This video has made me feel less afraid about possibly seeking help
This was awesome. Also... Anyone else wish they had Kati as their therapist?
🙌🙌🙌
I do. She's just so amazing and super cool
@@Katimorton Do you do therapy? I wish I can have you
Damn the first 2 min was like my first therapy i felt like the fbi was watching
They had a microphone in MLK's bathroom so you never know.
I know right?
I am happy that the patient was flawed, unlike other skits where they are much more put together and postive. Makes it feel more realistic and what I should expect to something I might say.
Watching this 20 mins before my very first session. My anxiety is through the roof right now and I’ve been putting off therapy for years now. I was so close to cancelling last minute but really forcing myself to give it a go this morning.
Thank you, will try the stop, stop, stop, when my thoughts are racing. You left out the awkward silences.
I said that to Sean when he was editing it.. that we should have put in like 15 minutes of just awkward silences.. haha!! xoxo
@@Katimorton i was wondering where they were lmao
This was exactly like the 1 therapy session i went to. Expect for awkward silences, lots of those. And i never went back because i'm not a talker, and find it almost impossible to open up and talk to people. Therapy felt like a nightmare!! But thank you Kati because your videos give answers to all that's racing through my head, even though i can't express it
My first therapist called me a "self-absorbed, attention whore." I kid you not. I wrote it down in my journal. During another session, she told me a random story about how she had to call the cops on her Chaldean (middle eastern ethnicity) neighbors b/c they couldn't stop being loud with curse words in front of her son after she told them to stop, wasting my time during the session (when I felt like I needed more, to begin with!). And, btw, I'm Chaldean.
I will admit, I wasn't the best patient. I went in thinking I was going to be "buddy-buddy" with my therapist because I always was towards my public school counselors growing up, but she was quick to let me know that she wasn't there to be my friend! From a vulnerable and naïve position, you were to think she could've taken a more lighthearted and less judgmental approach? I noticed she worked with younger kids too, but did she speak to them in that manner? Most likely not, I hope not, but it's just not fair (and maybe a little bit ageist too?!). Having a couple of no-call no-shows didn't help my case as well, but that shouldn't be an excuse to behave unprofessionally (when there's a deeper meaning to why I didn't call in-anxiety). During the same session, she then decided to list off a bunch of diagnoses that I didn't understand. When I asked her what they were, she told me to do my own research.
“It’s probably best you see another therapist," she concluded. When I was walking out, she lastly said to me, "We'll keep in touch," but never did (then don't say you are?!). I immediately called a friend at the time that was studying to become a therapist *SOBBING.*
I told my third therapist who became my third b/c my second one was becoming a father, so I was, like, "great..." I have to go through another therapist when I was beginning to like the second one, ya know? I told my third one about my first one and he had a look of shock in his face, "Did you report this?!" I still didn't.
Half-way through this time-stamp of going through my therapists, I got a ticket for possession & paraphernalia of pot, so I was *forced* to see one. Things were just *not* going in my favor. After I was done with probation, I lost the motivation to continue the sessions, so I decided to just stop.
I believe I need either a psychotherapist, counselor, or a group-thing. I need that deeper connection, but also the chance to let me just ramble on.
Yikes... clearly that first "therapist" needed a therapist. I'm glad you didn't let the first experience discourage you from trying again. There are good ones out there, and some people are just not the right fit.
That's truly terrible. I'm sorry that was your experience. I hope that you find the support that you need going forward.
@@KP-bq7yc You said exactly what I wanted to say.
I hear you brother - I hope the world hears you and with courage, your needs are met and given space to 💜 Kia kaha -!
My guy has a whole entire essay
Geese that first role play on a therapy session was better than like 4 of the therapists I've seen
Katie, I cry just thinking about going to a therapist. My anxiety spiked so high, and I'm only 36 seconds into this video. I don't know why I am like this.
I felt kind of anxious while watching the video too. I think the reason why I felt nervous was because these types of fears and emotions are hard to deal with, which is why we want to avoid talking about them with a therapist. I would suggest maybe going to a therapist, but taking it slowly, and not telling them all your problems right away. Don’t push yourself to say something that you don’t feel comfortable with. Set small goals. Maybe that will make it easier!
Most therapist offer online video calls u can turn of ur face cam
You aren't alone. I'm currently doing the same by having my own answers and convo during this video
As someone who has had many many first appointments… this is soooooooooo accurate. I’m glad that I have one that I am going to stick with but I know that seeing one for the first time is extremely stressful. You got this y’all!
Wow! This should be an ESSENTIAL video to watch before seeing a therapist.
Im just staring therapy next month
You got this! 👍❤️
Good luck 🙌👏 you can do it 💚
Yay!! I hope you find a therapist you like :) xoxo
Just want Kati to be my therapist!!! 😩😩
@@hypnoticflower3152 proof she is fake
@@hypnoticflower3152 whaaatt
She is a licensed therapist. You can look up her credentials online like most physicians.
Kati's videos are what helped me get into therapy for the first time a couple years ago. Love this video. Hope it helps others feel more at ease going to their first session.
Hi Rachel!! 🙌🙌🙌
@@Katimorton Hey Kati! If it were not for you I probably would never have made my first appointment. I was so nervous but so glad you were "there" to help me through it!
BTW I love the style of this video!
@@rachelbrame9584 That’s so sweet!❤️
Good Job, Kati! :)
I was very glad to see how you nudge the client to:
1. DESCRIBE
2. and Clarify w/specifics...what they are feeling, how it is for them, why they think it might be happening.
3. Helping the client to feel safe, so they can share and "get it out".
It is always good, to gain Insight.
My 40 inch TV just died recently that I bought 10 years ago for $600. I just went and bought a new TV for that same $600 but it's 75 inches. I'm so happy I get to watch my favorite TH-cam therapist life sized in my room and it's like she's standing right here in front of me. Kati your adorable, your videos are so helpful and informative, you care about people, your camera quality is outstanding, just know that you are very very much appreciated. This whole Covid situation has everyone masked and separated and lonely and sad so I think it's important to share a little kindness to bring smiles to others. Hope your doing well Kati and are smiling. :)
I’ve haven’t been to therapy in a few years bc I find it difficult but I have my first virtual appointment with a new counselor this week and I am very happy to have seen this video. Ur videos always help me.
I really liked the 'Stop. Stop. Stop' suggestion for racing thoughts. Thanks Kati ! Therapy has really helped me over the years and I have encouraged many to give it a go. Stay safe and best wishes from Australia 🤗
I
Omg the timing of this video couldn't be better. I have my first therapy session in a couple of hours. Thanks Kati 😊
yay! I hope it was helpful!! xoxo
She just makes me feel very safe
About all this, and especially the comments did, was convince me that I’m better off, in the long run, not even starting down this road.
With my first session with my therapist (who I love working with), I basically spilled out my entire trauma to her, which had just happened about a week previously, and I was already struggling with the thoughts of SH (which I had never done before). I knew I was going to need a lot of help, and the only way that I could do that was being honest from the get go with my therapist. I can't say the road has been an easy one (and I had a PTSD diagnoses back this fall). However, healing has become MUCH easier since working with her.
I strongly suggest you take notes for yourself if you suffer panic attacks or blank out or disociate make sure yr notes tell you calming things and only what you are happy to share on a first visit, anxiety has a way of stealing all words and depression just mutes everything and be prepared for awkward silence you don't have to fill it use that time to breathe.
when I first went to therapy I didn't even know what anxiety was, or the language around mental health! This fictional character is already a step ahead of me and a lot of other people! lol
Kati Morton. Just watched this new video about what a first time therapy session looks like and the things that are talked about between the therapist and the patient I like the way you did this video swapping between therapist and patient going into detail thank you very much for doing this video I needed this.lastly it's been over 1 year sence i was in therapy sadly my therapy was short and 1 day a week and I had a psychologist honestly wasn't able to feel comfortable though my first time in therapy didn't properly understand what was wrong with me I hope to get therapy again sometime this year hopefully once covid isn't so bad your great🙂👍
Hi Kati, I found your channel two years ago when I was still an intern. I continued to watch your videos as I was studying for my exam, and now as an LCSW. Theee years ago I was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer and wasn’t sure if I would even finish my goals of becoming a therapist. I just wanted to let you know that your videos have really inspired me. I’m not in remission, but I am well and I am stable. I recently joined a private practice group and feel incredibly excited and humbled to be doing good work for people who need mental health services. Thank you so much for your videos, they have helped me more than you know:)
I've been to countless therapy appts and it never goes like this. Every therapist I've been to see, don't ask questions, don't have a direction to go, they just let me talk, I honestly don't feel like it helps. And thats saying something for a person who has been diagnosed with ptsd, severe depression, severe anxiety, with active panic attacks most of the time daily. Theres more but it's unnecessary.
Sorry your past therapists haven't been helpful! Some prefer to have that approach of just letting the person talk, while others tend to have more of a question/answer format. There's pros and cons of each. Sometimes people just go to therapy to vent, and the therapist wants to ensure the client knows they are the expert of their own life (instead of the false idea that the therapist knows them more than the client, if that makes sense?) But sometimes you need questions and interventions and ideas to guide you into some relieving strategies! Hopefully you find a good therapist that fits your style and can help you. I just wanted to comment (as a therapist myself) to explain why that happens sometimes, and send some hope along your way. I would hate for you to not get the support you want just because your past therapists weren't your cup of tea. Anyway, long story short, I'm sorry for your experiences and I hope you have better ones in the future! Good luck!
If you decide to try again it might help to let them know exactly what you said here. Any good therapist will be interested to hear what works for you and what doesn't, and that you might like to have more questions and direction to go in. It's part of a therapist's job to find what works for you and what your goals are so that they can best help you so that would definitely be helpful for them to know. I wish you the best with everything. :)
As a person anxious about what that first interaction might look like,, this was so important, thank you so much for posting!! Similar examples like these would help.
I always wanted to go to therapy and I also believe that society should treat this topic differently (people shouldn’t only go there when they are in a crisis, we all should do it regularly). But I just don’t know how to start. Does anyone have any tips for me?🥺 Btw Kati, thank you for your educational videos, you even inspired me to start my own TH-cam channel!🤗❤️
Check out Kati’s therapy advice playlist! th-cam.com/play/PL_loxoCVsWqxBJ6sFwpS3JAAL8HLKbHYa.html
@@_just_TK omg thank you!🥺😍
@@_just_TK ❤️
Thank youuuu my appointment is this week
You got this! 👍❤️
i start this Friday! I'm actually really excited and ready to try therapy again :)
The appointment went really well! My therapist seems really great :)
This helped me so much feel calmer about my first therapy appt I have today. I’m really nervous
I’m a professional counseling grad student. This really helped me. I’m currently in a counseling skills class and we are learning how to begin and end sessions. Thank you!!!
First appointment in a week and it couldn't come sooner. Thanks for the video, helping me prep to make the most of it!
My first therapy session is tomorrow and I'm so stressed, thank you for this video
I’ve been avoiding calling a therapist for two months from sheer anxiety and this video has finally given me the courage to call. Thank You.
Thank you so much for this video. It really helps me for someone who is soon gonna get therapy. I feel really real relieved. Thank you so much.❤
This is a very well produced and informative video! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for making this video! I'm in my first year of an MSW program and I have been feeling anxious about what it will look/feel like to be the therapist. I want my patients to feel safe, comfortable, and heard, and I think you showed a great example of that. Please make more videos of different therapy scenarios!
Hi Kati. So nice to meet you. Thanku for your time
If I had this for my first therapy session I would’ve been much less nervous and also I’m going to be seeing a new therapist soon so this helps a lot!
I just had my first appointment and it was definitely not as scary as I thought it would be. My therapist told me if you have anxiety it is very normal to have anxiety about starting/going.
Ending with payment like that feels a bit awkward. I suppose that's how any health appointment works in the US. Sadly, we do now have that when visiting the dentist in the UK.
Definitely wish that my therapists had been like you, you give such a safe space. It took me forever to find someone I was comfortable with.
2:40
Here's the thing.... I feel like it is a huge disservice to separate the term "mental health" from "physical health". Not only because it's one of the reasons why "mental health" is still a concept shrouded in mystery for many people, but because mental health IS your physical health.
It gives the impression that people can will themselves out of psychiatric conditions any more than they can will themselves out of colorblindness.
Admitting that they are the same thing does not mean that medication is always the treatment (just like lifestyle modifications alone can also sometimes improve hypertension and hypercholesterolemia), but in my opinion, separating the two only serves to perpetuate stigma via confusion.
Wow this video couldn’t have came at a better time.. my first therapy appointment is in an hour and I’m nervous that I won’t be taken seriously or heard. Thanks girl
finally made an appointment with a therapist after being sexually assaulted about a month and a half ago just to try and cope with it, im so nervous.
I start group therapy next week and have been referred for individual therapy so this is really insightful and wonderful to see. Thanks Kati!
I am getting ready for a first therapy session. This helped me a lot. I need help and I’m happy to finally get it.
I’m an MSW student right now, and it’s nice to see how someone else approaches an initial contact. I feel like this was a blend of the first and second appointment. It made sense when you explained why you waited to go through history during a later appointment. Good video!
I like when you make these types of videos, it helps put my part in the whole process a little more clear as to what to expect. Thank you Kati!
As a person who had been in and out of therapy for a while the thing with a heart I used to have heart pain and I got it checked out when I was in middle school and nothing was wrong with it. Turns out it was my anxiety messing with it especially since at the time I was under a lot of stress like right now.
Love this video. More like it, please! I didn't find last week's skin/hormones video relatable because the issue you discussed seemed very specific. I would absolutely love more of these generally applicable, but very relatable, videos.
First therapy session today. Super nervous but I’m ready to move on with my life
this role play was really helpful thankyou
Wow. This was so accurate for me.
My first therapy appointment is on Thursday. Thank you for inspiring me to do so, and this video....this couldn't have been better timing.
You got this! ❤️👍
I have been to many therapists, counselors, and psychiatrists over the years, but this was great to remember how things should go! Great acting, too :)
I got into therapy about a year ago due to your videos! Thank you for everything you do Kati💚
LOVED this style of video. Love loved it. Felt cool to see what it ACTUALLY looks like in therapy. Not just a description of it, but a literal visual of it
Hey Kati
That pink blouse looks really good on you, and I think it cured my negative thinking!
I wish you were my therapist. ❤
Just watching a video of yours elevates my mood.
Thanks.
I have my first appointment today! Very much looking forward to it. I actually want to be an LPC which is a decision I also made through the guidance you provided in your video of different kinds of jobs in the psychology field you are an inspiration and have made this whole process of being a patient and an aspiring counselor so much easier. Thank you!
This is accurate. Almost scarily so haha. From the head tilt of listening to the unsure client. That’s so much like my interactions with my therapist. If I know anyone considering therapy (can only think of maybe one) I’ll most likely show them this video. Well done!
I just purchased your book!
Thank you. I hope you find it useful on your journey! 🙌🙌
I was two times in therapy, for a longer period of time, and talked to other therapists a few times beside that. Currently I'm also in therapy. These years make me feel that therapy is good, has huge amount of benefits, but I can't stop thinking that there is no happy end to it. I don't feel that I will ever be okay. There are two reasons for that. One is that some beliefs can't be changed through therapy, it's no need to change them at all. The other is that no therapist knows you the way you know yourself, and maybe you are spending years getting strong enough returning to first impressions(sometimes you won't even remember first impressions, therapy will last that long). I'm truly frustrated that after years of therapy I'm not feeling grounded, more focused, I still have serious self-harm episodes, my relationships are mostly the same, I don't have the courage to change my life, my problems got deeper, it takes more and more time addressing them and all that makes me totally depressed. I lost my faith in therapists, I feel alone with my problems, I continue to read articles about my issues, journal, watch videos(thank you!), these help me get more information than my one hour therapy in two weeks.
This is a great reenactment - super accurate about what you should expect in the first session!
Okay so I'm so glad I started therapy before I started my psych major because I would not be able to keep a straight face hearing the same questions in class as in therapy- it's really strange xD
I’m an MSW student right now, this is so helpful thank you! It’s been really difficult to compare what I’m learning in class to what it’s like in a practice setting with everything being online.
This is exactly how my first session went 😮
I am a psychology graduate, but going for my own therapy sessions was absolutely nerve wrecking despite knowing the ins- and outs of it. It was a really really good step and she was wonderful
I’ve been having signs of anxiety for a while now, but I haven’t been to therapy. Watching this is really pushing me to try it. I’m struggling with anxiety more and more everyday, and this video really helps me realize what’s going on inside me. Thank you!
I know it’s so hard to reach out for help but you got this! ❤️👍
I found it hard to ask for help too. But starting therapy was one of the best things that I ever did for myself. You've got this!
I loved this. This is exactly how it went for me too. But I’m watching this to gain a perspective as a future clinical psychologist! Can’t wait to sit in the therapist’s chair.
i’m literally wearing a heart monitor and i have my first therapy appointment in a few days for anxiety and depression 🗿
This is great. Starting a new job as a private therapist and this was very helpful.
This is actually EXCEPTIONALLY good. Thanks so much Kati.
OH I love this! I can totally relate to Kati, the purple, one not the orange one, of course.
Wow. Therapist Kati looked really pretty in this video. ❤️
your voice is so relaxing to listen to, i just took a nap while listening to this video and it kinda made me feel a little better so thanks! 💫😊
This was nothing like my first appointment, but I wish for everyone that their first appointment is like this.
Yes i do have qustion on cousseling
Thank you sooo much Kati! ❤ This is sooo helpful and soothing.
Kick-butt job Kati!!! This is going to be sooooo helpful for people. Would love a series on these. you're amazing!!!!!
Have psychotherapy appointment tomorrow. First one and to be honest I'm excited
Hi Kati, would you consider letting me interview you? I am in school studying Clinical Mental Health, this is my first semester and for my homework next week I need to interview someone in the profession that is already well established.. please let me know.. thank you so much 😊
I wish you luck and j hope she replies to you 🙏
@@typicalcookies8123 thank you 🙏 I’ll probably find someone local here in town..... I do hope she replies back tho.....
@@rociolovesalexyour welcome . I'm glad you have a backup plan as well that's smart
I love Kati so much, I wish she could be my therapist
i have my first therapy appointment this afternoon and OH MY GOD IM SO SCARED
I have my first on Thursday but it’s over the phone at least cause of COVID I think I have cptsd but I’m so scared
Thank you for this. Kati do you have a video on how to contact a therapist for the first time? Like what to say to find out of they would be a good fit. I know about Psychology today search, but how do you pick? Not necessarily asking about credentials or issues they focus on, but more personality. How can you tell if you may jive with them? How much to you say from the get-go? Hard to be vulnerable without first developing trust in someone.
can you do the second session? :)