What to Expect from Your First Therapy Session

The first therapy session can feel nerve-wracking, but you don't need to prepare specially.

What happens?

1. 1.Getting acquainted: The therapist introduces themselves and their approach
2. 2.Assessment: You share why you're seeking help
3. 3.Questions: The therapist asks about your background and symptoms
4. 4.Goals: You discuss what you hope to get from therapy
5. 5.Practical matters: Schedule and pricing are agreed upon

Tips

• Be honest – the therapist has a duty of confidentiality
• You can ask anything about therapy
• The first session is also your chance to evaluate if the therapist feels like a good fit
• If it doesn't feel right, you can look for another therapist

How can I prepare?

You do not need any special preparation. If you wish, you can think beforehand about what made you seek help, when the symptoms began and what you hope to get from therapy. Write down questions if you want to ask about the price, how often you meet or the therapist's way of working.

What if I feel nervous?

Feeling nervous at the first session is common. You can tell the therapist about it right at the start, so they can take it into account. You do not have to tell everything at the first session, and you can proceed at your own pace.

After the session

After the session you can calmly think about whether the cooperation felt suitable. Trust in the therapist is important in therapy, and you can change therapist if the cooperation does not feel workable.