What can I expect for my first therapy session?

Starting therapy can be a daunting process, especially if it is your first time. If you're reading this, you might be considering starting therapy, or maybe you have already booked a first session and are feeling uncertain about what to expect. Hopefully, this blog can give you more of an idea about what will happen in your first session and alleviate some of your first session nerves!

What happens in the first session?

In the first session, your clinician will ask you questions about various aspects of your life. If there is something you are not ready to talk about yet, you can let your clinician know this. You will be asked about recent significant events, as well as thoughts, emotions, and behaviours, and what you believe has ultimately brought you to therapy. The first session helps your clinician to understand what you are wanting from therapy, which enables them to start to develop a plan with you for future sessions. You can also ask any questions that you have, like what therapy might look like going forward.

Do I need to prepare anything?

It may be helpful to think about what your goals are for therapy before your first session. A goal can be anything that you would like to focus on or work towards achieving. For example, if you are experiencing anxiety, a goal of yours might be to learn strategies to better manage and reduce your anxiety. If clarifying a goal is difficult for you to do alone, there is no need to panic! The first few sessions can be a great time to explore your goals further with your clinician. Often goals will evolve and change during therapy anyway!

What if I don't feel like I connect with my clinician?

Sometimes it can take a few sessions to get a feel for whether you connect with your clinician or not. If you feel unsure about whether you connect with your clinician, it may be worthwhile to give another session a go. The first session usually runs differently to other sessions, as it involves a comprehensive assessment (which is all the questions we ask you about what your life is looking like). This can mean that it is hard to know whether the style of your therapist is a good fit for you at this stage. If you would like to move to a different clinician after your first session, you can call our reception team and let them know. They will then take you through the next steps.

What if I have questions that aren't answered here?

If you have questions that aren't answered here, please feel free to contact our friendly reception team and they will try and give you the information you need! You can contact them by emailing talk@qpsychology.com.au or calling us (03) 7023 4780.

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