TeenHelp - Sick from anxiety

Hey there Kate,

Anxiety is a normal reaction to something stressful but if it is making you sick, maybe that's something to bring up to your therapist. I know that therapy can be really difficult at first. You are asked to open up to a complete stranger about personal issues. But keep in mind that your therapist is not a mind reader and they need you to be honest with them. For example, if therapy is what is giving you so much anxiety, maybe you can bring that up in addition to everything else that is going on? Or even start with that when you begin your session. Explain that the experience of therapy is challenging in itself.
I told my school counselor once in response to her insistence of going back to therapy, " I need a therapist to navigate therapy"
She found it interesting I brought that up and at first was unsure how to answer that. But she did have an answer in the end. She told me that with the right therapist, you'd be able to open up about the challenges of therapy and in that way addressing this issue can be integrated into the sessions.

You say this is a new therapist, so I'm taking it as this is your very first session? Maybe you can bring someone close to you? Even if they don't come into the office, perhaps just being there in the waiting room can help.
Remember that you've never met this therapist, and therefore you still don't know whether you'll like them or not. Take a deep breathe. If you don't feel you click, you can still let them know that you prefer to switch out.

Best of luck and feel free to update how it goes.