Deciding to start therapy is an important step, and it is completely natural to have some questions about what to expect from your first session.
The first session is mainly an opportunity for us to get to know each other, for me to better understand what has brought you to therapy at this point in your life, and for us to begin exploring what you would like to work on together.
How does the first session begin?
To begin with, I will invite you to tell me a little about what has brought you to therapy at this time and the difficulties you would like us to work on together.
There is no “right” way to begin. I will also ask you some questions throughout our conversation to help us develop a better understanding of what you are experiencing.
What might we talk about?
During the first session, we will begin to build a clearer picture of the difficulties that have brought you to therapy.
We may talk about:
• What is currently troubling you and how it is affecting your everyday life.
• When the difficulty began and how it has developed over time.
• What you have already tried to help manage it.
• Whether you have had therapy before and what that experience was like for you.
• What you hope to gain from our sessions.
• What you would like to change or improve through therapy.
Will we talk about the past?
This depends on the difficulties you are experiencing and how your previous experiences may relate to what is happening in your life today.
In CBT, we place particular emphasis on the present and try to understand what may be maintaining a difficulty now. However, this does not mean that we ignore the past.
Previous experiences can help us understand how certain patterns of thinking, emotions, or ways of responding to situations may have developed.
In some cases, we may need to spend more time exploring your personal history and significant past experiences. In others, we may make some relevant connections while focusing more closely on what is happening in the present. This will always be adapted to your individual circumstances and what is important for us to work on together.
Do I need to know exactly what I want to achieve?
You may already have a clear goal or a general idea of what you would like to change. Through our conversations, we can define this more clearly and decide together what you would like to focus on in therapy.
How does the first session end?
Towards the end of the session, I will explain more about how I work, how Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) works, and how we can adapt therapy to your individual needs and difficulties.
We will discuss what we might work on in future sessions, and you will have the opportunity to ask me any questions you may have about the therapeutic process, my approach, training, or professional background.
The first session is also an opportunity for you to get to know your therapist and consider whether the approach and way of working feel right for you.
Remember
Therapy is a process that develops gradually. Change does not always happen overnight, and it is important to allow time and space for the therapeutic process.
You may begin to notice some small changes early on, while others may require more time, practice, and patience. Everyone progresses at their own pace.
Therapy is a personal journey, and through a collaborative process, we work step by step towards the changes that are meaningful to you.