Finding a new therapist is a lot like being thrown into the dating pool after a divorce. It’s scary, awkward, filled with a level of uncertainty and a lot of work.
Walking into my new therapist’s office was nerve wracking and scary. I was not looking forward to revisiting my childhood sexual trauma, the sexual assaults I experienced as an adult and every other thing that’s been a source of pain and trauma in my life.
Sharing my personal history with my therapist was surreal. I felt completely void of any motion whatsoever. It was very clinical and to the point. “I was sexually abused by my grandfather as a teen. A year later, I was sexually assaulted by my boyfriend. Yadda yadda yadda…I’m a mess.”
Building trust with this new therapist is going to take a lot of hours and a lot of work. No one enjoys revisiting trauma or sharing their endless list of anxieties while their new therapist nods and takes notes, but it’s a critical part of building trust and nurturing a working relationship between therapist and patient.
I know that finding a therapist that’s a good fit is going to take a lot of work on my part, but I’m willing to go all in and develop what I hope will be a good rapport between us.
