Preparing for Your First Appointment with a Therapist

Preparing for Your First Appointment with a Therapist

You’ve booked your first therapy appointment, and now you’re anxiously awaiting the day you meet with your new therapist. Keep in mind, starting any self-improvement journey requires courage, so you should feel proud of yourself for taking this next step towards better mental health. It’s normal to feel a bit unsure or anxious about starting your first therapy session. People experience a wide range of different emotions prior to their first session ranging from excited & ready all the way to feeling reluctant & scared. Heal Talk Therapy wants to help you set clear expectations to help you prepare for your first session so you can go in feeling confident and ready.

The Initial Intake Session

Your first therapy session or two are typically referred to as intake sessions. This is a time for you and your therapist to meet one another and get to know each other. This will help you determine if you are the right fit for each other. Your therapist will also spend the majority of the session gathering information about you and learn what you would like to get out of therapy.

Gathering Information

Your therapist will ask about your symptoms, your current and past physical and mental health, your family history, and your personal background. They may ask about your relationships, your job, and your hobbies. These questions are designed to help your therapist understand you better, not to judge or criticize you in any way. The more open and honest you are, the better your counselor can help you.

Discussing Your Struggles

Your therapist will want to understand what brought you to therapy. It could be a recent event, ongoing feelings of sadness or anxiety, struggles with relationships, or something else entirely different. Be prepared to discuss these issues, but remember, you don’t have to share everything in the first session. Therapy is a journey, and it’s okay to take it one step at a time.

Setting Goals

Finally, your therapist will discuss your goals for therapy. These could be specific (like wanting to manage anxiety better) or more general (like wanting to feel happier). Your goals might change over time, and that’s okay. Your therapist is there to help guide you on this journey, not dictate where it should go.

Preparing Yourself

Before your first session, take some time to think about what you’d like to achieve in therapy. You might find it helpful to write down your thoughts and questions so you can reference them during the session. Remember, there’s no right or wrong way to do therapy. It’s all about what works best for you.

Do’s and Don’ts of Therapy

Do be kind to yourself, and let yourself open up & be honest with your therapist. This may take some time, so don’t feel as though this has to all be done during the first session. Be willing to look inside and see what you really need and want. Give therapy at least a few sessions. The first couple sessions will be spent gathering information so it may not feel as helpful as you hoped for initially.

Don’t put up a wall with your therapist. This process only works if you open yourself up to healing. Don’t be dishonest with your therapist because they are only here to help you! Don’t be hard on yourself or impatient with yourself since counseling is a process that takes time!

Heal Talk Therapy Supports You Through Every Stage of Life

We hope this article helps you feel more prepared for your first therapy appointment. It’s normal to feel a range of many different emotions such as nervousness, excitement, or uncertainty. But remember, this is a brave step towards better mental health, and you’re not alone. Your therapist is there to support you every step of the way.

As a compassionate and supportive team of therapists, we encourage you to take that vital first step toward better mental health by scheduling your first appointment. You deserve to be heard, understood, and helped on your journey to better mental health. You’ve got this, and we’re here for you.