If you are about to go to a counsellor for the first time you will be more at ease and get better results if you know what to expect. In your first session, the therapist usually asks certain questions about you and your life. This information helps to make an initial assessment of your situation. The questions may be around these areas:
Why you sought therapy. A particular issue probably led you to seek counselling. The counsellor has to understand your surface problem(s) before she can get to the deeper issues. Your personal history and current situation.
The counsellor will ask you a series of questions about your life. For example, because family situations play an important role in who you are, she may ask about your family history and your current family situation.
Your current symptoms. Other than knowing the reason you sought therapy, the therapist will attempt to find out if you’re suffering from any symptoms. The therapist will use this information to better understand your situation and experience.
What you can do. The counselling session is a team effort. If you don’t take an active part in the session, you won’t find the counselling experience valuable. Here are some things you can do to make your first session as successful as possible:
Be open. Therapists are trained to ask the right questions, but they are not mind readers. The therapist can do his job more effectively if you answer the questions openly and honestly.
Be prepared. Before you get to the session, know how to describe what the issue(s) are and to describe your feelings around this issue. If you are uncomfortable expressing this then one way to prepare is to write down the reasons you’re seeking help. Make a list and then read it out loud or bring this list with you and share it with your counsellor. Hearing yourself say it a few times will help you describe things more clearly to the therapist.
Ask questions. The more you understand the counselling experience or how counselling works, the more comfortable you’ll be. Ask questions about the therapy process, and ask the therapist to repeat anything you don’t understand. Be open and honest about your feelings.
A lot will be going through your head in this first session. Listen to your own reactions and feelings, and share them with the therapist. You’ll both learn from these insights.
Be sure to go to your first session with realistic expectations. Therapy is not a quick fix for your problem, rather it is a process. With some effort on your part and a strong relationship with your therapist, counselling can be helpful and can assist in resolving problems.