What should I expect from my first therapy session?
Rebecca Kerr, Owner of Nurtured Counseling
Written By: Rebecca Kerr, MSW, LSCW-S, PMH-C
So you are thinking about booking your first appointment with a therapist, or you have already booked your first appointment and now you are nervous… You may be asking yourself, “What should I expect? What are they going to ask me? Is it going to be uncomfortable, am I going to need to share my whole life story in the first session?” Being nervous or apprehensive regarding your first meeting with a therapist is normal – something important is bringing you to therapy, and now you are trusting a professional you have not yet met to listen and help with the problem bringing you to therapy.
“Being nervous or apprehensive regarding your first meeting with a therapist is normal.”
Your initial appointment with a therapist is considered an intake in which your therapist will get to know you, your history and what is bringing you in. At the beginning of your session, you can expect an introduction from your therapist and some “housekeeping” type conversation. Your therapist will review limits of confidentiality (heads up – everything you discuss in therapy is considered confidential, unless you share intent to harm yourself or someone else, or report child abuse or neglect), what this session and subsequent sessions may look like, and potentially other items such as expectations for cancelling or re-scheduling an appointment. If your session is via telehealth, your therapist will also ensure you are in an environment you feel safe in and what to do if you get disconnected.
After you get through introductory/housekeeping type items, your therapist will then begin getting to know you. They may ask you what brought you in to therapy today, what symptoms you are experiencing and what goals or hopes you have for yourself. They will also explore your history, such as your childhood, your current support system, etc. All of this will allow your therapist to begin considering what the best method of treatment will be for you, and they will collaborate on a plan of treatment with you.
At the end of the session, your therapist may ask if you would like to schedule another appointment. This is your decision – if you feel like you “clicked” with your therapist and they will be a good fit to work with you, go ahead and book the next session. If you do not feel like this therapist is the best fit for you, it is okay to say so – they may have already mentioned this. If it is not a good fit, your therapist can provide you with referrals to someone that may work better for you.
Hopefully this short article answered a few of your questions regarding your initial therapy session and quelled some of your concerns. From Nurtured Counseling, we wish you the best of luck on your healing journey.
