During your first appointment, the therapist will probably ask you to explain why you are seeking therapy. This is your opportunity to provide an overview of how you have been feeling and what problems you have been encountering.  You may want to think about how you will express these things before you go, since it might be a little overwhelming to describe it all on the spot. In your own words, just try to describe how you have been feeling and acting. How long has it lasted? Why does it bother you? What do you hope to accomplish through therapy? Your first appointment is a good time to ask questions that will help you decide if you want to continue with this therapist. Some questions you might want to ask include:  How long have you been a practicing therapist? How much experience do you have working with people who share my issues? What are your specialties? What are your treatment methods? How effective are these methods? Being dishonest with your therapist can hinder your progress or prevent it entirely. Therefore, it is essential to tell your therapist the truth about your feelings and experiences. Keep in mind that your therapist is not going to judge you or share what you have shared with her. If you don’t feel comfortable being honest with a therapist, then it might be a sign that you need to try someone else. Talk therapy is an effective treatment for many different types of mental health issues, but it takes time and persistence. You and your therapist can set goals and develop a plan for achieving those goals.  For example, your goal might be to feel less anxious when you go out in public or to stop making major purchases without thinking about them first. Tell your therapist what your goals are and follow through with her recommendations for achieving them. Keep in mind that it can take a while to see results, but the results from talk therapy are often more long-term than the results you might achieve by only taking medication. You need to be comfortable with your therapist in order to address your mental health problems.  Be aware of your comfort level with the therapist. If you feel comfortable and safe, that’s the best environment for effective counseling. Consider if race or gender is an issue in your counseling. Don't limit yourself to the age, gender, or race of the therapist, since you may skip over a very qualified therapist. If your specific mental health problem addresses a unique gender or racial experience, you may want to choose a therapist that may understand your experience first-hand. Pay attention to the communication style of your therapist. Make sure the way they talk and listen to you feels like you are heard and listened to. Keep in mind that therapists are human beings too. Some meetings may not go well. Mental health professionals are not perfect, so try to give them the benefit of the doubt. If you don’t feel comfortable with a therapist, that’s ok. It’s important to feel comfortable to address your mental health concerns.  Realize that your first meeting is just an interview. It’s not the end of the world if the first therapist does not work out. Ask for a referral if your initial meeting doesn’t work out. Even if your first meeting did not go well, your therapist may be able to suggest someone that’s a better fit. Thank the therapist for their time. They took time out to meet you as a new patient. Be grateful for their time and willingness to help.

Summary: Describe the feelings and issues that you want to work on. Ask questions. Provide honest answers. Set goals with your therapist. Pay attention to your therapist's personal qualities. Know that not every therapist will work out.


Lightning rods do not attract lightning but do provide a path of least resistance if lightning hits your house. This can prevent the electric current from damaging your home. Do not install a lightning rod yourself: find an electrician certified to install lightning systems. During thunderstorms, lightning can travel through water pipes if it strikes your home. Do not bathe or shower until the storm has passed. If you have to use the sink, only do so in emergencies.  Even showers or bathtubs that are completely enclosed without windows nearby put you at-risk for electrocution because of the water pipes. Avoid areas with standing water or excessive moisture during storms, like a cellar basement or patio slab.  Because porcelain is a great insulator, toilets are safe to use during lightning storms so long as you aren't touching metal. Using electronic devices that plug into the wall is dangerous during a lightning storm. Avoid using TVs, washing machines, and corded phones during thunderstorms. Wireless electronics, like cell phones, are safe to use unless they are plugged into a charger. Unplug electronic objects during a thunderstorm in case lightning strikes the house and the surge short circuits them. Avoid standing next to open windows or doors during a thunderstorm. Although rare, lightning can travel through windows during storms. Glass is a good insulator, so it is unlikely that the window will be struck if closed. Do not touch doorknobs during a storm, as metal conducts electricity.

Summary: Add a lightning rod to your roof. Avoid bathing, showering, or using the sink as much as possible. Turn off and stay away from wired electronics. Keep your windows closed.


You can create 1 or 2 French or Dutch braids. If you wish to create 2 braids, you will have to part your hair down the center first. Secure the braids with mini hair elastics. Standard hair ties will be too bulky.  You can end the braids at the nape of your neck, or continue with regular braids. Change up the style by creating an interesting part on either side of your head. Use your part as a guide, and braid at an angle, continuing the line as you braid down the hair. Pull your hair back into a low ponytail. Split it into 3 sections, like doing a braid, then secure the middle section with a hair tie. Cross the 2 side sections over the top of your ponytail, like tying a shoe. Hold the sections against the sides of your ponytail, and secure them with bobby pins. Use bobby pins that match your hair color. Be sure to tuck them inside your hair so that they are not visible. Part your hair at about eyebrow-level, then gather everything above your eyebrows into a ponytail. You can make the style fancier by doing a French braid or by twisting the ponytail into a bun. Create a center or side part, then gather a 1 in (2.5 cm) section from each side of the part, right at your forehead. Twist each section into a thin rope. Pull the ropes towards the back of your head, then cross the left one over the right one to make an X. Secure the ropes by crossing 2 bobby pins over the middle of the X. If your hair is straight, try curling it for a more voluminous look. If your hair is curly, straighten it for something sleeker. Use the handle of a rat-tail comb to change your part from how you normally wear it: center, left, or right. When creating a side part, begin the part above your left or right eyebrow, then angle it towards the back-center of your crown.
Summary: French or Dutch Braid your hair. Create a knotted low ponytail. Keep things simple with a half-up, half-down ponytail. Twist 2 thin sections of hair into ropes and pin them back. Switch up your daily look by changing your hair texture or part.