What to expect in your first therapy session?

When you decide to go to therapy for the first time, you mark the beginning of a meaningful journey toward emotional and mental well-being.

Today, I dedicate this post to what to expect at your first appointment.

The experience of going to therapy for the first time can be a mixed bag of emotions. It's a time when, as a person, you'll carry a history, questions, and expectations. It's a process that will feel difficult at first, but if you approach it with openness and trust, it will be a healing and learning process.

One important thing your therapist will do is outline the foundation for the therapeutic work, so you can address your issues.

The first therapy session is the starting point in a person's therapeutic process. As a client, you'll meet the therapist, establish goals, and explore your concerns and needs.

First, the therapist will ask you questions about why you're seeking help and explore the problem. Knowing your perspective as a client about the reasons that led you to seek psychological help is important. Here you can talk about the symptoms you're experiencing, the events that triggered this situation, or any concerns you may have.

The therapist will also ask you about your personal history, which may include your childhood, significant relationships, and other factors that may have affected you, to better understand your current situation. Sometimes our past can affect our present (that's how we see the world).

Once the therapist has completed the important questions to gain an understanding of what's affecting your life, goals and expectations will be established. These should be done with you. Both you and the therapist will work together to identify the objectives. Your voice is very important; you must agree because you will be doing the work with them.

Once the goals and expectations have been established, the therapist will explain the therapeutic process and the therapeutic approach they will use, as well as the estimated duration of treatment, although this is more difficult to predict, as it will also depend on each client. Other aspects, such as the frequency of sessions, will also be outlined.

I hope you enjoyed this post. It's a brief summary of what to expect during your first session. You may still feel overwhelmed, and believe me, it's a big step, but once you do it, you won't regret it. Just be yourself.

I hope your healing journey is easy and filled with much learning.

Much love,

Cinthya Bacilio