Talk therapy works best when the client enters the therapeutic relationship with openness. Use the acronym O.P.E.N to prepare for your first counseling session.
O
"O" stands for observe. Before your session, pay close attention to your bothersome thoughts and uncomfortable feelings, take note of these.
P
"P" stands for prioritize. It helps to understand the urgency of you concerns. Be ready to share what's most important to you with your therapist.
E
"E" stands for expand. It helps to understand your concerns well enough to talk about them, in detail, if necessary. How are these concerns effecting your life?
N
"N" stands for narrative. We all have a narrative, a version of our own story. Get familiar with yours. Arrange the sequence of events in your life.
By: Chiffon Samuel MA, LPC
