Expectations for a First Session
Alright! so you have done the things needed to start therapy. Congrats and good job! You have found a therapist you might like, you set an appointment, and you are ready to go. As the appointment time nears you start to think, “what did I get myself into”, and that doubt starts to creep its way in. I’m writing this post to give you a heads up about a couple things that can happen in a first session, so you can have some calm and confidence. DISCLAIMER! Not every thing in a first session will be discussed, every therapist is different and this is intended to highlight a first session broadly. If you want more information about your first session, reach out to your therapist for more details.
OK! The first thing to know is, the first session tends to not be like most other sessions. A more typical session involves working on a particular thing or discussing one or two topics. In the first session, the therapist is trying to learn about you and get caught up on your whole life; so they can develop a plan to move you toward your goals. In practice, a first session can feel more directive and focused on particular aspects of yourself. The therapist may even ask questions about things that do not seem relevant to what you are wanting to talk about. That is normal and doesn’t necessarily mean your therapist is not paying attention. Instead it is an indicator of them building an understanding of who you are, so they can know how best to help.
Another thing, depending on the set up of where you are getting care, there may be some paperwork you have to complete. This can be really annoying if you arrive to your appointment at or close to your appointment start time. I suggest for your first session, arrive around fifteen minutes early; just in case there are last minute forms you have to sign. Also, at the beginning of the session, your therapist will go over more legal and ethical things and maybe even ask you to sign another form. This can be off putting for the first session and maybe even feel cold. Unfortunately, therapists must get your consent to do therapy, before you do the therapy. So, pack some patience for the first little bit of a session. There are some things that must be done before a good therapist can really attend to you.
Last thing. There can be difficulty for client’s to know where to start. It may feel like you have no idea what kind of information is needed or relevant and you do not want to waste time with unhelpful information. Thank you for looking out for us therapists. But, from a therapist’s perspective, as long as you are talking about yourself and your experience, it is all relevant! A good therapist wants to know your story and is eager to learn about whatever you want to share. If there is information missing, the therapist can always ask or the information will come up another time. I think it is more important to go into a therapy session knowing there is no topics off limits, and there is no unhelpful information. You can discuss what feels most heavy on your heart or something that does not feel too risky to share, its up to you. Coming in with the mindset of, “this is my time and I want to use it a particular way”, can be really helpful in getting the ball rolling.
My parting advice, a therapeutic relationship can make or break your therapy experience. The first session is a great time to get a feel for your therapist, and make sure they are a good fit for you. If you are not feeling your therapist, let them know. It may seem rude, but a good therapist always wants to know what you are feeling. Some times the issue is something that can be corrected, or it is just not a good fit between you. If it is not a match, a good therapist will help you find someone else that may work better. Now that you have an idea of what to expect in your first session, your worries can melt away! May your therapy always be comfy!
