Your Top San Jose, CA Therapy Questions Answered

Starting your Trauma & ANxiety therapy Shouldn’t be complicated.

You’re already dealing with some big real-world stuff out here. It’s like we’re living through unprecedented times ALL of the time these days.

Work, relationships, inflation, political absurdity, human rights crises - it's easy to feel overwhelmed and uncertain about what to do and how to deal with that very real stress & those big feels. 

therapy is a great tool to help you manage your relentless real-world, everyday challenges. 

And like anything new, starting therapy can feel super weird - like another person is really going to know your deepest, darkest sh*t & not judge you?

It's completely normal to feel a little nervous or unsure as you start therapy.

Especially if you’ve never done it before, or if it’s your first time meeting with a new therapist.

What can you expect from therapy with your new Trauma & Anxiety therapist? 

I’ve got your Therapy Basics covered so you can focus on starting your therapy journey and making progress toward your therapy goals.

(1) what really goes down in a therapy session? 

You’ll get uninterrupted time to talk with a trained mental health specialist about whatever’s bringing you into therapy in the first place. Your therapist will help you figure out patterns and new insights into why you do the things you do. They’ll teach you strategies to deal with the immediate distressing stuff, as well as address your long term mental wellness goals.

Typically, therapy sessions last 45-50 minutes and occur on a regular basis.

You, along with the help of your therapist, will get to decide how you want to spend your time in therapy. Making goals for therapy will help you prioritize what you want to accomplish in therapy, and pinpoint exactly how you want to spend your time in sessions

(2) What if I don't know what to talk about in my therapy session?

It’s okay if you're not sure what to talk about in therapy - your therapist is there to help you find your way. If you're feeling stuck, start by sharing what's been on your mind lately or use the time to talk about some of those more recent activating events.

Recent phone call with mom that had you biting your tongue?

Weird interaction with your friend that made you feel awkward and uncomfortable?

Hearing about another tragedy on the news that sent you into an anxiety spiral?

Start there - it’s okay if you’re not going into the trenches of your deepest trauma every single session.

Therapy’s hard work, and your brain might need breaks to fully process those other heavy duty therapy sessions. It’s totally okay to tell your therapist what you need for each session. You can start where you left off the previous week, deep diving into the thick of your BIG trauma, anxiety, or stress, or take some time to talk about the everyday mundane. Anything you talk about in therapy is real & valid, and your therapist will be able to help you create new insights for any topic you might bring into therapy.

(3) How long will I have to be in therapy for?

Your therapy time-frame depends entirely on your treatment needs & goals. Therapy is a unique and individualized experience. Maybe you have a short-term goal for sudden big stuff that just popped up - those acute instances of trauma & stress, which typically require a more succinct therapy timeline.

But if you’re seeking therapy for a more complex, slow-simmer anxiety, trauma, burnout, relationship challenge, childhood emotional neglect, then you’ll likely need a longer course of therapy.

There are no quick fixes for these long-standing symptoms.

It’s going to take some time to unpack, sort, process, and rebuild new ways of being - likely a year or more of therapy. Faster is not always better when it comes to your trauma, anxiety, relationship, or burnout therapy. 

(4) How do I know if therapy is working?

You may feel a variety of emotions when starting therapy - relief, sadness, confusion, etc. There’s no one way to feel when starting your trauma or anxiety therapy. In fact, you may even feel worse after your first few therapy sessions before you start feeling better. Some people, however, feel feel better immediately - even after one session.

Therapy is not a one size fits all, so it’s super important to be patient with yourself and the process.

Especially if you’re more solutions-focused & NEED results fast - here’s looking at you perfectionists with some Type A, overachieving, girlboss tendencies.

Your goals will help you measure your progress in therapy, and help keep you on track. Ultimately, you know therapy is working if you’re digging deep into some good insights and feeling empowered to make change, which may also feel uncomfortable and scary. 

(5) What if I don't like my therapist?

Has your therapist ever fallen asleep on you?

Do they not laugh at your jokes?

Blank stare at you?

Admitted to being politically neutral because they “can see both sides” & it is very much so NOT the vibe?

You just don’t feel like they get you?

It's SO important to feel comfortable and supported in YOUR trauma & anxiety therapy.

If you don't feel like your therapist is a good fit for you, it's okay to do what you gotta do and look for another therapist who WILL meet your therapy needs & match your personality.

You don’t have to justify firing your therapist and finding a new one - your mental health treatment is a big investment and you deserve to have a perfect-fit-for-you therapist experience. Plus, your therapy outcomes depend on it! The better the relationship between you and your therapist, the better outcomes you will have in therapy! A win is a win.

(6) Is there homework in therapy?

Your therapist may recommend homework - or exercises to work on outside of sessions - to help you practice and build on the skills you’re learning in therapy.

This could include things like journaling, practicing relaxation techniques, or putting into practice new communication skills with friends or partners.

The point of homework is to help you apply your new therapy skills in your everyday life so you can keep making progress towards your goals.

Your therapist may recommend more structured homework depending on what brings you into therapy - panic and OCD might require more specific exercises outside of the therapy space. Your therapist will help you navigate what you can do in-between therapy sessions to ensure you’re making the most of your therapy experience.

(7) Will I have to take medication?

Medication can be a helpful tool for some individuals, and depending on your symptoms, your trauma & anxiety therapist might recommend a medication consultation with a psychiatrist who can better determine if medication might help ease your most distressing symptoms. Typically people don’t come into therapy until their symptoms feel out of control, which means those really severe symptoms of overwhelm, panic, & depression are on overdrive by the time you’re at your first therapy session.

A Psychiatrist may recommend medication management if you’re experiencing BIG anxiety and panic or unrelenting depressive burnout.

Sometimes medication can help soothe what’s at the surface so you can make room to get to the root of your big symptoms.

In therapy, you’ll also explore various coping strategies and techniques to help you manage your big, at the surface, symptoms. The decision to take medication is ultimately up to you - so it's important to have an open and honest conversation with your therapist about any concerns or questions you may have regarding your medication management referral, and to make an informed decision that feels right for you.

Now that you’ve got some real answers about starting therapy…

It’s time to get out there and schedule your free 15-minute Consultation with your prospective list of perfect-fit-for-you therapists. Don’t know where to turn to find someone you like & trust?

Take a look here or hit that contact button to learn more about how we might be a good fit for your therapy journey.