1st Session

Today was my first session with the psychologist.  I didn't know what to expect.  Most of my ideas of what psychologists do come from TV and movies (The Bob Newhart Show, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest).  I did sit on a leather sofa (although I didn't recline like one of Freud's patients).  He sat across from me in a chair that looked like it came from IKEA.  His office is small and unpretentious; he doesn't even have a receptionist.  I found I liked him, that his personality and manner seemed compatible with mine.  He seems very intelligent and thoughtful.  He didn't take notes during the session (which I guess I had expected him to do because of media depictions of psychologists).  Instead, he seemed to pay complete attention to me, maintaining eye contact and even making sympathetic gestures.  I guess I had expected someone more aloof.  

We talked about my symptoms, my divorce, a brief overview of what's going on with me lately and what I might could gain from therapy.  I was late to the appointment because I got lost, so we didn't have the full 45 minutes.  But it was enough time for me to decide I liked him, that I could talk to him honestly and openly (at least I'm going to try my best in this regard), and so I made a second appointment with him for next week.  He gave me some "homework" to do, a sheet of questions to answer concerning my experiences with forming relationships and getting support from others.  I consider myself to be quite introspective naturally, but the questions seem to help me focus on things I might not otherwise have given much thought to.