What To Expect In The First Session

IGTV Mini-Series: Empowered Clients Part 1

Join me for a three-week mini-series on empowered clients. During this series, I am joined by Brian Teal. Brian is a licensed therapist and owner of Conscious Living Therapy Services. We aim to educate clients on their essential role in the therapeutic process and share our perspective on how clients can get the most out of therapy. Whether you are a seasoned client or new to therapy, there is something to learn from the insights Brian and I share! If you are interested in starting the therapy process, connect with me at Wingate Counseling for a free consultation.

Is it normal to be nervous?

This week Brian and I talked about what to expect in the first session. For many people, the first session can cause a bit of anxiety. Rest assured that it’s totally normal to be nervous when starting therapy. After all, you’re coming to therapy to share personal struggles and vulnerable feelings with a complete stranger. An empowered client shares those tricky feelings with the therapist, which leads to a deeper therapeutic relationship.

It’s important to acknowledge your work leading up to the first appointment. The journey from accepting support, finding a therapist, and actually showing up is a success! Don’t let your nervous feelings get in the way and block forward momentum. Typically, those anxious feelings dissipate as you develop a relationship with your therapist.

What happens in the first session?

Not knowing what to expect in the first session might seem intimidating. Simply put, the first session is all about you telling your story. The therapist wants to get a complete picture of your life, symptoms, and goals for therapy. Empowered clients are forthcoming with information about themselves. Withholding information limits the therapist's understanding of you and slows the process. It’s okay to ask questions or let your therapist know your struggles in discussing specific topics. You can relax knowing that it’s the therapist's job to walk you through this process.

How does follow-up work?

So after the first session, you’ve done a lot of hard work getting there, battled initial anxieties, and fully shared your story - now what? Empowered clients work with their therapist to create a game plan to address the issues discussed. As a therapist, I recommend that new clients come to therapy weekly. Meeting more frequently in the beginning moves the process along faster. However, that might not be realistic for everyone. While therapy is an investment of your time and money, it’s also meant to support you rather than stress you out. Empowered clients collaborate with their therapists to create a personalized plan.

The Bottom Line

Empowered clients understand that therapy is a relationship. It may feel intimidating to tell a healthcare professional if something isn’t working for you or share your needs for therapy. However, try to be honest about how you’re experiencing therapy. This allows you and your therapist to process the relationship in real-time. A good therapist aims to support your journey to become the best version of yourself!

I hope this was illuminating, and you will join us next time as we dive deeper into what it means to be an empowered client. Check out the full video conversation between Brian and myself on my Instagram @WingateCounseling, and connect with me to schedule your free consultation!