What you can expect with your first session
It can be daunting to arrive at your first counselling session. There’s a natural sense of nervousness and vulnerability as you’re about to embark on an important journey.
Before you start your first session with me, we will have had an initial conversation over the phone, so I won’t be a complete stranger, but I want to give you a little insight into what that first session will look like.
So, what can you expect?
A welcoming face and a confidential, relaxed safe space to feel comfortable in opening up about what has brought you to therapy. You may not be able to find the words at first to explain all that has been happening and the thoughts and feelings that have lead you to your first session.
In truth, you don’t have to find those words straight away. In time, they will come and the trust will build in our therapeutic relationship to allow the healing to begin and for you to be able to move forward.
Your first session is about me getting a sense of you, and that works both ways.
I will ask you to tell me about yourself in your own words and I will reflect back to you what I am hearing. Sometimes, hearing me reflect back what I have heard you say helps you to understand and clarify in a deeper sense.
It’s a bit like writing a draft letter — when you read it back you sometimes add things to explain it in a deeper way, which helps us to be on the same page.
It is very important for you to feel comfortable with me for the therapeutic relationship to begin. There won’t be any pressure to book your next session, and at first you may need some time to reflect and decide if I am the right counsellor for you, and that’s ok. You can get in touch with me again when it feels right to you.
I look forward to hearing from you.