First Step

What Can You Expect From Your First Session?

Although different Counsellors work in different ways, the format for the first session typically follows some regular themes.

Unless a client presents at the beginning of the first session extremely distressed, you can expect the first session to include:

1. An opportunity for you to explain your situation & circumstances. It might sound like an obvious thing to say. However, some people find it very difficult to talk about their issues and the thought of going through them with anyone can be quite daunting. You won’t be forced to say or do anything you don’t want to in any session. It may well be that the first few sessions are spent just building a trusting relationship with your chosen therapist. One that, hopefully, in time you will feel comfortable enough to express yourself. The therapist provides the opportunity and you decide when you want to take it.
2. Identifying your expectations of therapy & goals. The therapist will try to identify your expectations of therapy so that, if there are any expectations that can’t be met, things can be clarified at the beginning. This gives you the chance to decide whether therapy is likely to deliver what your hoping for. It’s also important to identify your goals so that there is a clear understanding for both the client & therapist about what you hope to achieve from therapy. This gives the therapist an opportunity to assess whether your goals are realistic & achievable and, again, clarify where needed. If you’re not sure what your goals & expectations are, a good therapist should be able to help you work through those.
3. Contracting. This might sound a bit official and some clients feel daunted by the term ‘contract’ but it’s important to understand what’s meant by this, in the first instance. The contract is there to protect both the client & the therapist. It defines what the client & therapist can expect of each other in terms of behaviours & practices, and setting out clear boundaries. It commits the therapist to ethical standards of practice and to work in the best interests of the client. It also defines things like the length of sessions, any charges, how & when payments should be made, as well as how cancellations are handled and rules around contact outside of therapy.
4. The therapist will explain how they work. You may have already had this discussion with your therapist but if not, at this point they should offer an explanation of how they work and how that can be applied to you & your circumstances. This is important because it gives you & the therapist an opportunity to assess whether or not this is the right approach for you.
5. Get to know your therapist. Therapist & client need to be like pieces of a puzzle that fit together. The first session gives you an opportunity to meet the therapist & get to know them a little. You will get a feel for whether or not they are someone you can have trust in, whether you feel like they are someone you can open up to and build a therapeutic alliance – a relationship in which you work together to achieve your goals. At BroadMinds Therapy we offer a free consultation before the first session to give you this opportunity so you can decide whether we are right for you without spending a penny.

If you’d like to discuss Counselling & Psychotherapy for yourself or someone you know, contact BroadMinds Therapy and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you have and discuss options for you.

Call 0899420568

Email: help@broadmindstherapy.org

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Web: https://broadmindstherapy.org

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