I wanted to run the other way.

My experiences of therapy have been quite varied; ranging from awful to very helpful.  Generally, I know right away if it’s going to work.  It doesn’t always happen this way though.  There was one counsellor who would have been in her 60’s - I was in my mid twenties at the time.  When she came into the waiting room and called my name, I looked up.  As soon as I saw her, I panicked.  I wanted to run the other way. 

Instead, I followed her into a small office and sat on a chair across from her, wondering what on earth I would tell her.  I'm sure she sensed my apprehension. It makes me smile to think about it now.  I know I was operating on the assumption that our age difference meant she couldn’t possibly understand me.  I’m not sure where this mindset came from, but I doubted that a woman the same age as my grandmother would be sympathetic of my senseless blues.

I was in for a surprise!  Within minutes of the start of our session together, she had me totally enthralled.  Not only did she get what was happening for me, she shared something of her own experience.  This clearly indicated to me that I was far from being alone.  Our one hour session eased my angst and it taught me a valuable lesson: A first impression tells me more about me than the other person.

Nowadays I keep a close watch on my inclination to make hasty judgments - I'm learning to slow the process down.