Over the years, I've learned that helping clients understand what is going to happen during their first appointment (often called
the “intake session
”) can be greatly helpful in putting them at ease and starting our relationship off on a warm and welcoming note.
What is an initial consultation with a therapist?
The free initial consultation provides you
with the opportunity to ask questions, meet me, learn about my services, and decide if you think I am the right therapist for you and your situation before you answer questions about why you are seeking counseling
, how the current problem is impacting your life, your goals of …
What is a meeting with a therapist called?
Therapy, also
called psychotherapy or counseling, is the process of meeting with a therapist to resolve problematic behaviors, beliefs, feelings, relationship issues, and/or somatic responses (sensations in the body).
How do you conduct a first therapy session?
- Greeting them warmly.
- Listening actively and asking questions.
- Facing them or turning toward them during the session to show your engagement.
- Letting them know that any nervousness or anxiety they feel about the first session is common.
What happens in first Counselling session?
In the first session
you will meet your counsellor for the first time
. Your counsellor will discuss the Framework for Counselling with you including issues of confidentiality, length and timings of sessions and payment. This framework provides a secure and confidential agreement between you and your counsellor.
What you should never tell your therapist?
- There is an issue or behavior you haven't revealed to them. …
- They said something that has upset you. …
- You are unsure if you are making progress. …
- You are having difficulty with payments. …
- You feel they're not getting something. …
- They're doing something that you find disconcerting.
What are the 3 types of therapy?
- Psychoanalysis and psychodynamic therapies. This approach focuses on changing problematic behaviors, feelings, and thoughts by discovering their unconscious meanings and motivations. …
- Behavior therapy. …
- Cognitive therapy. …
- Humanistic therapy. …
- Integrative or holistic therapy.
What should you tell your first visit to a therapist?
So feel confident that they don't know you as you know you in that first session, and tell your story — what brings you in today? Therapists of course want to hear what
the current problem
is and where it all started. That helps address your immediate needs and what brought you in that day to see the therapist.
What are questions therapists ask?
- Why are you seeking therapy at this time? …
- What do you expect from therapy? …
- Have you been in therapy before? …
- Are you having suicidal thoughts right now, or have you had suicidal thoughts within the past month?
What questions do therapists ask about depression?
- How often do you experience the problem?
- How have you been coping with the problem(s) that brought you into therapy? …
- What do you think caused the situation to worsen?
- How does the problem affect how you feel about yourself?
What should a first therapy session cover?
- Challenges you are currently facing that you'd like to explore in later sessions (mentioning topics upfront will help the therapist guide future sessions)
- Recent changes in yourself or life circumstances that prompted you to seek therapy.
What are the 4 types of talk therapies?
Talk therapy, also known as psychotherapy, branches out in many different directions, including
cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), psychodynamic therapy, humanistic therapy, and more
. Most of these types of therapies are available in both individual and group settings.
Where do I start with therapy?
- Do it for yourself. …
- Not all therapy is, and not all therapists are, the same. …
- Don't rush the process. …
- Not every session will be the same. …
- Be open and honest. …
- Things can get worse before they get better. …
- Let's talk about sex. …
- Self-esteem and self-worth are not the same things.
How much does a Counselling session cost?
The cost of private counselling can vary depending on where you live, with a session costing anywhere
between £10 and £70
. Many private therapists offer an initial free session and lower rates for students, job seekers and those on low wages.
Can I bring someone to my therapy session?
Provided you have discussed it with your therapist in advance and all are in agreement,
it is perfectly fine to bring someone
with you into your therapy session.
What a therapist should not do?
- Skip building trust or rapport. …
- Lack empathy. …
- Act unprofessionally. …
- Be judgmental or critical. …
-
Do
anything other than practice therapy. … - Lack confidence. …
- Talk too much or
not
at all. … - Give unsolicited advice.
