Booking your first therapy session can take courage. It’s completely normal to feel nervous, unsure of what to say or worried about what will be expected of you. Knowing what to expect can make that first step a little easier.
Before the session
When you book, you may be asked to complete a short intake and consent form. This covers your contact details, a little about what brings you to therapy and the practical side of things, like confidentiality and cancellations. At Soulful Psychology, you can complete our consent form online before your first appointment.
During the session
The first session is mostly about getting to know each other. You can expect to talk about:
- What’s bringing you to therapy right now
- How long things have felt this way, and what you’ve tried so far
- A little about your background, relationships and daily life
- What you’d like to be different, and what you hope to get from therapy
There’s no pressure to share everything at once. You decide how much you’re comfortable talking about, and it’s okay to say “I’m not ready to talk about that yet.”
Questions you can ask
Therapy is a partnership, and it’s important that you feel comfortable. You’re welcome to ask questions such as:
- How do you usually work, and what approaches do you use?
- How often will we meet, and for roughly how long?
- How will we know if therapy is helping?
After the session
It’s common to feel a mix of emotions after a first session — relief, tiredness or even a little unsettled. That’s a normal part of the process. Take some time for yourself afterwards if you can, and notice how you felt about the conversation.
Most of all, remember that starting is the hardest part. If you’re ready to take that first step, we’re here when you are.
Soulful Psychology
Healing through understanding. Therapy for individuals, couples and organisations, by Mohammed Uzair Bhamjee.
