Preparing for Your First Family Therapy Session

Mar 09, 2017

1. Determine how you will pay for the sessions. Will your insurance pay? If so, what is your co-pay? If not, how will you pay for the sessions, and how many sessions does your therapist recommend? The answers will help you to determine what works best for your family, and will help alleviate the financial stress of attending before you get started.
2. Write down medications. Your therapist will need to know if you or your family members are diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or other issues. It helps the therapist create a plan of action to help your family. Prepare a list of medications beforehand, so you can share it immediately.
3. Schedule reminders. Place value on your family therapy sessions by setting calendar reminders and making sure to carve out the time you all need to dedicate. Your family will only benefit from a full commitment to the process.
4. Talk to your family about honesty. The only way therapy is going to help your family is if each of you are honest about what you are feeling, your perceptions, and your troubles. Have a family meeting to begin this conversation and reassure your children that you want them to be honest.
5. Acknowledge your nerves. You are getting ready to pour your soul out to a complete stranger. This can be intimidating, especially if you have never done it before. Your therapist will help you work through your feelings, and your children are more likely to open up and acknowledge their feelings if you are being honest as well. Set a good example!