What Can I Expect During a First Session?

It's natural to feel a little (or a lot!) nervous when meeting a psychologist for the first time. This is especially true if it's your first time ever doing therapy.

First sessions are really about us starting to get to know each other. This includes:

• Clarifying any important administrative pieces at the start of the session
• Beginning an assessment of the main issues/concerns that you hope to address in counselling (this involves giving you lots of space to speak about why you're here, and me asking lots of questions to understand your situation better)
• Finding out about your hopes and goals for our work together
• Giving you the chance to ask me any questions about counselling (including how I work, the services I provide, or how I can best help you)

A couple of things to note about first sessions:

• They go by really fast. You'll be amazed by how quickly the session goes once you get into it. We have lots to cover when we first meet.
• First sessions are more about assessment than treatment. As such, it can feel a bit more like an interview than you might expect. That's normal--it's hard to know how to best help you if I don't fully understand the situation, so I'll ask lots of questions and give you lots of space to tell me what's going on for you. In subsequent sessions, we focus more on treatment and support.
• Sometimes things feel worse before they feel better. This is normal too. Talking about difficult life situations can be uncomfortable or even painful. Things may get stirred up. The good news is, an awareness of and a willingness to delve into these previously-avoided topics is the pathway to healing and growth.
• You may also walk away feeling good about yourself. It takes a lot of courage to admit you need support and to begin the counselling process. You've taken a huge step--congratulations! Many clients say they walk away from a first session feeling calmer and "lighter" than they did when they entered the office. There is something really healing about opening up to another human being and experiencing being cared for and supported.​