What to Expect at Your First Appointment
First and foremost, it’s absolutely normal to be uncertain about your first therapy appointment. If you have anxieties, questions, and concerns about this process, you’re not alone; the first session is the place to bring it all in. A good therapist will help soothe those worries and answer any questions you have. So definitely come with questions! The more you understand the counseling process the better it will work for you. Similar to a first doctor’s visit, there are different protocols that take place. Likewise, there will be some variety to this process, such as offerings on a telehealth platform or some sort of social distancing environment. In either case, once you set up your first appointment the therapist should give you some directions on how to arrive.
Intake Process
Once in the room, your therapist may begin by describing their approach to therapy, provide you an overview of her policies and the limitations of confidentiality, then have you sign some forms of acknowledgement. They might open the session with questions such as:
“What do you hope to get from therapy?”
“What struggles bring you here?”
“For how long have you been experiencing this?”
As nerve-wracking as it can be to open up to a stranger, I really encourage you to be open and honest about your feelings and reactions, as these insights are helpful. For the main portion of the session the therapist will conduct an interview, which is often referred to as an intake interview. This portion will vary in formality and structure. You may be asked about your psychosocial history which may include factors regarding (past and present):
presenting problem
early childhood
interpersonal relationships
career/education
previous medical treatments
It’s a lot to cover, which is why gathering your history is sprinkled throughout each meeting that follows. As my supervisor put it, the value of this process is that the better the therapist can understand where you’ve been each chapter of your life, the better they can meet you where you are now. This information informs the potential diagnosis which informs the treatment plan. I like to think of it as a blueprint or a roadmap, which of course can change directions as things are added.
Feedback and Coordination
In closing, the therapist will give you a brief summary of their first impressions of your concerns and provide an explanation of how you may work together. At this point, the therapist may even offer you referrals to other health practitioners, if there is something outside therapist scope of practice. This is also an opportunity to ask any clarification questions. At the end is when most therapists discuss billing and perhaps schedule a follow up appointment. And many of them will give you time to think it over.
After your First Session
After your first session, reflect on your experience! Do you feel like it went well? You might determine this by asking yourself a few things:
Did I feel heard?
Does the therapist seem like someone I can trust?
Are you confident that their approach/expertise might help you?
Do our schedules and fees align ?
Takeaways- While you might not have all the answers overnight, remember that therapy is a process— not a quick fix. It is one that requires willingness, dedication, and collaboration. Often it takes a few more sessions to establish trust with a therapist and get comfortable with the whole process. Overtime, all the pieces will fall into place. Trust the process!
