What should I do to make a friend?

Hello R2D2! Thank you so much for bringing this vital question to the BetterHelp "Ask a Licensed Therapist" forum! You certainly have come to the right place. Developing social skills can certainly be a lengthy process and often takes some hard work as well as a bit of practice over time. I would be interested in hearing more about your experience with making friendships in the past. What are some of the barriers that you foresee as a challenge when you consider the process of making new friends?

Based on your question, it seems like you are ready to make some changes in your day to day life in order to make new friends. From what you wrote, it appears that you are intrinsically motivated to meet new acquaintances and establish novel friendships. I am so glad to see you reaching out for support at this time and I am more than grateful that you provided me with the details about your current situation. Going off of what you wrote about in your initial question, it sounds like you would like to set a goal of making at least one new friend in the next few weeks, or so.

Essentially, it will be up to you to begin this process. Are you willing to meet new acquaintances in your town or neighborhood? Would you be able to establish some connections with peers in an online setting? Have you considered going to a therapy skills group on the topic of social skills training? If you feel like you are struggling to meet new friends, is it because you are having trouble with reach out or interacting with others? Perhaps you can start by making a phone call or sending an email or text message to someone who you already know. Keep it simple and just say, "hi, how's it going?"
I know that you mentioned in your question that you have been begun working and it sounds like you are doing fairly well at your job thus far. A great way to meet new friends is through mutual connections. Do you have a coworker who has a sibling or cousin that you could try to spend time with? Perhaps you can ask a family member if they have a suggestion for making new friends. It would be great to come up with a potential plan of action in order to start your journey of fostering new friendships.

I also would be interested in hearing more about your strengths as a friend yourself. For example, what skills do you possess that would make you a good friend to some one else? What are some qualities that you value in a friendship? Have you considered going to a public place, like a museum or a park, in order to establish connections in the community? Perhaps there is a class you can take that would help you to make a new acquaintance. I like the idea of going to a paint nite, pottery class, or an art museum. Not only will you meet others who may have similar interests, but you may also have an opportunity to experience some of the healing aspects of viewing art or art making!
What are some of your hobbies or interests? You mentioned that you have been watching a television series. What shows do you enjoy watching? Perhaps there is a fan group or a club that you can join that would help you to meet new people. It depends what you like but it would definitely be worth looking into!
Also, you mentioned in your question that you have been spending time focusing on studying. What are you currently studying for? Are you taking online classes, preparing for an exam or enrolled in a college or university? Reaching out to others who are also studying would be an ideal way to meet new people. You can enroll in an exam prep course, go to a study group or check out resources at local colleges in the community. There could be many people around your age who are also looking to make new friends! Try your best to connect with peers in social settings when you have the opportunity to do so. You can do this by simply asking an individual how they are doing. Create a list of questions that you could ask a new acquaintance. An example of a question that you could ask someone you just met is, "How do you like to spend your free time on the weekends?"

As you explore the meaning of friendship, I would like to commission you to create a therapeutic drawing of the meaning of friendship. Take your time to contemplate what a good friendship might look like. Utilize colors to symbolize emotions that you are willing to share with a friend. Perhaps you can create a thought bubble or talking point and add that to your drawing. You may find some new insight and inspiration through your drawing!

By inquiring about this concept of making new friends, I can tell that you are at the point where you are preparing to make some changes. At this time, I would recommend going to individual counseling sessions as well as group therapy. Both of these modalities will be beneficial in your process of making changes for yourself. You will also have an opportunity to work on improving socialization skills, which I believe will be incredibly helpful for you! In addition, group therapy will be a wonderful opportunity for you to make new friends as well as help you to combat the feelings of loneliness that you have been having. Trust in the rewarding nature of the therapeutic process!

Thank you again, R2D2, for your time in asking a question on the BetterHelp platform. I want to wish you all the best in your therapeutic journey on BetterHelp. I hope that my response is helpful for you in some way! Take good care and enjoy your day.