Many people with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) seek counseling or psychotherapy for treatment. Often, this means a one-on-one session with a professional who has some expertise in treating anxiety disorders. The following is a list of 4 major factors to consider for people that have not gone to therapy before, or are looking to improve their experience. For a breakdown of
types of treatment professionals for GAD, click here, and for the
best types of treatments for GAD, click here.
1. Be as open as possible
If there is one thing that can make or break a good psychotherapy experience it is openness. This can be difficult for people with anxiety problems, particularly around meeting people or disclosing personal information, but it is essential for therapy to work. Two suggestions would be to inform the therapist that you are feeling anxiety in the session, which can be a way to get the ball rolling, or simply tell the person it may take you some time to warm up to the process. Most providers will understand and very much respect that about you.
2. If you don’t like something, say it!
Therapists are human too, and sometimes they can make mistakes or misinterpret something. If there was something said or a technique done or a suggestion made that did not work for you or made you angry, then make sure to say something. Being able to inform your provider that what they are doing is not working for you can often open up a new dimension of working together, or when not said can fester and start to compromise the trust in the relationship. If you are worried about experiencing some rejection or don’t want to upset the therapist, try leading with that concern and seeing how just stating that is received before going further.
3. Ask questions
Inevitably as therapy progresses, questions come up. As a practicing clinician, I am often surprised about how many questions go unasked until the very end. Asking why something was done a certain way, what was meant by a comment, or how something is interpreted are great questions that can lead to quicker understand and better treatment outcomes.
4. Come prepared
Another extremely important part of the most successful therapy experience is client preparation. Spending time during the week and before the session to prepare for what you want to talk about and what you want to get out of the session can dramatically improve the quality and speed of your treatment. In my experience, clients who spend the most time outside of the session working have the best outcomes from treatment.
