What Happens in the First Therapy Session

It takes courage to book an initial counselling or psychotherapy session, and often the worry about what will happen can discourage people from reaching out. Despite popular opinion and how therapy is portrayed within television and films, our job is not to solve your problems or tell you what to do; our job is to provide you with the space to explore all aspects of your life and support you with the changes you wish to make.

It's common to be nervous about this first session, particularly if you've never had therapy and don't know what to anticipate. However, keep in mind that the initial session's goal is to help you and your therapist get to know one another and determine whether you believe the partnership will work.

An initial session will include:

Personal Information

Having recently come across a social media post in which therapists were questioned about why they need information, it feels important for us to state that without certain information, we aren’t able to offer therapy sessions. The information required may include:

❓Name

❓Date of Birth

❓Address

❓Contact Telephone/ Email Address

❓Medical History/medication and GP details

❓Next of Kin

Objectives

Initial sessions concentrate on general topics such as your motivation for seeking therapy, your general background, and the therapist's treatment plan. Expect the therapist to enquire about the particular issue that prompted you to seek therapy, your goals for the course of treatment, a brief account of your life, and any prior therapy experiences. In addition, he might summarise what you said, talk about his own therapy approach, and offer comments on the problems you raised.

Personal & Family History

Our personal and family history, especially in relation to mental health, can be beneficial. learning a client’s family history of depression, addiction, anxiety, or otherwise may offer clues to their current issues. While some therapists prefer to get this information in the first session, others prefer to gradually gather this information over time, leaving historical questions for another time. How your therapist addresses this may depend on their theoretical approach or their personal preference.

Counselling Contract

Within the first session, a therapist may also go through or offer the opportunity to discuss their counselling contract. The counselling contract is the formal agreement between a client and a therapist that outlines the terms of their professional relationship to create a safe and transparent experience. It includes practical details like fees, session times, and cancellation policies, as well as professional boundaries, ethical considerations like confidentiality, and the rights and responsibilities of both parties. 

As therapists, without the above information, we would not be able to offer therapy sessions and would not be working within our ethical frameworks. The information provided is used for:

✅ Informed consent for treatment

✅ Scheduling appointments and reminders (email, phone)

✅ Safeguarding

✅ Court subpoena - basic demographic information to be able to identify and match you to any court requests I receive

✅ Establishing Professional Boundaries, e.g. Counselling Contract

**It is important to note that a first session can differ, should you be attending for couples or family counselling.