P.S. If you haven’t had a chance to check out the Setting Expectations and Shifting Perspective post, I’d recommend glancing at that one before hopping in with this post!

I’ll be honest here. This post was born from my blissful ignorance that was my first therapy session with my very first therapist many years ago. I was blind, and I had no clue what was going on or what I was getting into. But I knew I needed and wanted support. My first therapy session would have looked much different if I had some tools and guidance to prep with.

So here we are- Self-Reflection, FTW!

The majority of this prep is filled with self-exploratory questions. Your answers to these questions will be incredibly helpful for you and allow you to know more about yourself before you unpack your inner mental world with the help of this godsend of a human- your therapist.

We’re going to dive right in! Grab a piece of paper, your journal, an email window, or whatever you’ve got because this is going to be good. 

Let’s start with some supportive self-reflection questions to consider before you dive into your therapist search. I promise, knowing your general answers or gut reactions to these questions will help you and your therapist. And also your search! You’ll have a much clearer understanding of your needs and goals, making the search process less overwhelming.

Be honest with yourself. Open up and hold no judgment. Your feelings are valid! 

The self-reflective questions below are here to help get you started. Keep in mind- you don’t have to answer every question! Answer the ones that jump out to you and start there. This isn’t a homework assignment you’ll turn in and get graded for; it’s for YOU. There are no rules, and whichever approach you use is the right way here!

Self-Reflective Questions Before Therapy

1. What does my best self feel like?
2. What type of support do I need to be my best self? Both internally and externally?
3. Why am I here? 
4. Why am I looking into therapy?
5. What are my mental health goals?
6. What do I want to gain in therapy? 
7. What do I want to release in therapy?
8. Are there self-help coping tools I want to develop or refine?
9. What particular areas in my life are making me feel “stuck” or are limiting me from my own growth?
10. Is there something, in particular, that’s pulling you towards owning and bettering your mental health?
11. Which personality traits and characteristics do I respond well to? Which do I not respond well to?
12. Which type of communication approaches do I respond best to? Which do I respond poorly to? Examples include direct, passive, listening, validation, or questions. Maybe a mix of a few?

How’d that feel? Hopefully, this self-reflection exercise got your mind moving and you have a clearer insight into yourself, your needs, and your overall mental wellness goals. 

One little hot tip for the hunnies before we end. 

Self-reflection is the secret sauce to continuous progress on your mental wellness path. 

Why? It gives you, your brain, and your feelings a chance to all grab a coffee and catch up with each other. If the reflection process is skipped, it’s really, really tough to know where you stand with yourself mentally. As you start or continue your mental wellness journey, come back to these questions, to a blank journal, or whatever you like, and take the time to reflect on YOU. 

Reflection is productive. It is progress. It is recovery. It is curious. It is learning. It is growth.