What to Expect in a First Therapy Session

Starting therapy can bring up nervousness, and knowing what a first session usually involves can make it feel more manageable. The details differ between therapists, and the following describes how I approach it.

Before the session

After you book, you will complete a short intake form with basic information and some questions about what brings you to therapy. If you have had a consultation call, we will already have talked briefly about your goals and about my approach.

During the session

We talk about what is bringing you to therapy now and what you hope will be different.
We review relevant history, including relationships, family, and previous therapy.
We discuss confidentiality, my supervision as a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern, and practical details such as scheduling.
We begin identifying patterns you would like to understand and change.

You do not need to prepare anything in particular, and you are welcome to share as much or as little as feels comfortable. In Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), the first stage focuses on building a secure base, so the early sessions are as much about feeling safe with me as about gathering information.

After the session

Many people feel relieved, tired, or a little vulnerable after a first session, and all of these are common. Over the next few sessions we usually develop a shared picture of the patterns and decide together how to proceed. More about the process is available on the new client page.

Before the session

During the session

After the session

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