The first therapy session is an important step in beginning your journey toward personal growth and healing. It’s designed to help you and your therapist get to know each other, understand your goals, and establish a plan for moving forward.
During the initial session, we will:
· Discuss confidentiality and informed consent: You’ll learn about your rights to privacy, the limits of confidentiality, and how your information is protected.
· Review background information: I may ask about your current concerns, personal history, relationships, work or school life, and any previous counseling experiences.
· Explore your goals: Together, we’ll discuss what brought you to therapy and what you hope to achieve—whether it’s managing stress, improving relationships, or addressing symptoms like anxiety or depression.
· Explain the therapy process: I will describe my approach, what sessions might look like, and how often you might meet.
· Answer your questions: You’ll have the opportunity to ask anything you’d like about the process, methods, or expectations.
You won’t be expected to share everything all at once. The goal of the first session is to create a comfortable, safe space where you can begin building trust and feel heard and understood. By the end of the session, you and I will have a clearer sense of how to work together to meet your needs and goals.