I’ve been thinking about trying counselling for PTSD, but the idea makes me pretty nervous. Part of me wants help, while another part worries I’ll have to talk through everything before I’m ready or that I’ll feel judged. Even making the first appointment feels like a lot.
I’m also unsure what the first session is usually like. I’d probably find it easier if I knew I could set boundaries and take things slowly, instead of being pushed straight into the worst memories. Has counselling helped anyone with PTSD when they were nervous about starting?
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Rachel, the first appointment doesn’t have to involve telling the whole story. When I started, I said upfront that I wasn’t ready to discuss certain parts yet, and the counsellor focused on what helped me feel safe and grounded instead.
One practical thing that helped was writing down three boundaries before the session, including “I may need to pause” and “I don’t want details discussed yet.” Having those on paper made it easier to say them out loud. You can also ask how they handle pacing and what happens if you get overwhelmed before booking.
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The idea of writing down boundaries beforehand is really useful. I tend to lose my words when I’m anxious, so having “I may need to pause” on paper would probably make the first session feel more manageable.
I once wrote a short list of questions before an appointment and handed it over instead of trying to explain everything verbally. It took some pressure off.
@Andrew_Obrien, asking how they handle pacing before booking is such a good idea. I hadn’t really thought of using that as a way to work out whether a counsellor feels safe enough, rather than just hoping it’ll be okay once I’m there.
The written boundaries would help me too, especially if my mind goes blank. I’d probably add that I need a few minutes to ground myself before carrying on. Just knowing I’m allowed to pause makes the whole thing seem less intimidating.