What Do You Say In A First Counselling Session?

The therapist will ask questions about your presenting concerns, as well as your history and background. Most likely, you'll find yourself talking about your current symptoms or struggles , as well saying a bit about your relationships, your interests, your strengths, and your goals.

What do you say at the beginning of a Counselling session?

In greeting the client, I make clear I'm glad to see him or her: I smile, look them in the eye and say something such as “ Good to see you again, Mary ,” and then a bit of small talk. For example, if during the previous session, s/he had mentioned her dog Woofie,” I might ask, “How's Woofie doing?”

How do you start a counseling session?

1. Make Sure the Focus is on the Client. ...
2. Walk the Line between Pushy and Coddling. ...
3. Stay Confidential. ...
4. Ask for Clarification. ...
5. Practice Your Questions. ...
6. Structure the Session.

How do I start my first therapy session with a client?

1. Welcome/Orienting the client to the consultation session. ...
2. Super-Short and Focused Diagnostic Evaluation. ...
3. Feedback to Client. ...
4. Share Your Initial Plan (let the client know that you can help them)

How do I start talking to my Counsellor?

1. Remember, there's no ‘right' or ‘wrong' thing to talk about. ...
2. If you find it hard to remember how you felt during the week, take notes out of session. ...
3. Bring up whatever's bugging you right now. ...
4. Tell your therapist about what kept you up last night (or last week) ...
5. Talk about your relationships.

What do you say to a Counsellor?

You can talk to your counsellor or therapist about anything that is troubling you or causing you emotional/psychological distress. Just try to say whatever is on your mind and how you feel about it . Sometimes there is silence; sometimes you might find yourself saying things you had not expected to say.

What do you say to your first therapist?

During your first session, your therapist will ask questions to understand what you're struggling with and what brought you in to see them . You'll likely talk about some of your past (family history, traumatic experiences) and how your symptoms or feelings are manifesting today, and how long they have been showing up.

What do you say at the end of a Counselling session?

Reflect and summarize .

Another way to end a session gracefully is to reflect and summarize. Reflect the important message in the client's last statement, tie that back into the overall theme(s) of the session or relevant takeaways, and then translate that into a practical action step or question to ponder for the week.

How do you message your therapist for the first time?

Try not to directly call the therapist. An email or text is preferable . This is not only professional, but gives us an initial space to organize our thoughts and emotions before sharing them. This is not about first impressions, but really about being able to communicate to the therapist why you need their services.

How do you write a counseling note?

1. Be Clear & Concise. Therapy notes should be straight to the point but contain enough information to give others a clear picture of what transpired. ...
2. Remain Professional. ...
3. Write for Everyone. ...
4. Use SOAP. ...
5. Focus on Progress & Adjust as Necessary.

What should I do before my first Counselling session?

1. Set Goals. ...
2. Have Realistic Expectations. ...
3. Give Yourself Credit. ...
4. Schedule Your First Session at a Convenient Time. ...
5. Reserve Time for Yourself Before the Session. ...
6. Dress for Comfort. ...
7. Don't Be Afraid to Ask Questions. ...
8. Be Open and Honest.

What to think about before Counselling?

• What brings you to therapy?
• Why now?
• What are your goals for therapy?
• What will be difference once your goals have been met?
• How important is this to you? ...
• How will you know when your goals are met?
• What's your understanding of the issues?

What are the core skills a Counsellor would use within this first session with their client?

• Attending. ...
• Silence. ...
• Reflecting and Paraphrasing. ...
• Clarifying and the Use of Questions. ...
• Focusing. ...
• Building Rapport. ...
• Summarising. ...
• Immediacy.

How do I start a second Counselling session?

1. “So what's different?”
2. “Tell me about what's happened since we met last time.”
3. “Were some times better than others since we met last time?”

What do you say in a first email to a therapist?

Describe what you need help with, but keep it brief

There will be time later to go into specifics, but in your initial email to a therapist, a simple sentence or two about what you'd like to address in therapy is sufficient.

What do you say when scheduling an appointment with a therapist?

Write down the name, number, and location of the therapist you are calling, as well as the questions you want to ask . This way, you can keep track of responses if you reached out to more than one counselor. Don't be afraid to get the answers you need.

What is a counseling session?

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).

What is the first rule of helping?

What is the first rule of helping? Do no harm .

How do you document a Counselling session?

1. Choose a theme for the session. Take a moment to think about the main topic you and your client (or clients) reviewed in the session. ...
2. Create a regular schedule. ...
3. Simplify your template. ...
4. Wait on using check boxes. ...
5. Be wary of taking “quick notes”

How do you write a good progress note?

1. Objective – Consider the facts, having in mind how it will affect the Care Plan of the client involved. ...
2. Concise – Use fewer words to convey the message.
3. Relevant – Get to the point quickly.
4. Well written – Sentence structure, spelling, and legible handwriting is important.

What is the best Counselling approach?

Psychodynamic Counseling is probably the most well-known counseling approach. Rooted in Freudian theory, this type of counseling involves building strong therapist–client alliances. The goal is to aid clients in developing the psychological tools needed to deal with complicated feelings and situations.

How do you develop skills and qualities in the future in Counselling?

1. Choose the Right Course. Like most careers, you must start with education. ...
2. Work on Communication. Communication is a huge part of counseling. ...
3. Be Organized. ...
4. Have Confidence. ...
5. Be Empathetic. ...
6. Have a Sense of Humor. ...
7. Take Care of Your Well-Being. ...
8. Research Often.

What skills should a Counsellor possess to be effective in his or her profession?

• Communication Skills. Effective counselors should have excellent communication skills. ...
• Acceptance. ...
• Empathy. ...
• Problem-Solving Skills. ...
• Rapport-Building Skills. ...
• Flexibility. ...
• Self-Awareness. ...
• Multicultural Competency.

What questions should I ask in a first therapy session?

• How often would you anticipate seeing me? For how long?
• How do you set up counseling goals? What are they like? What is success for you?
• What is typical session like? How long are the sessions?
• What kind of homework/reading do you give patients?
• How do I prepare for my first session?

What should I expect from my first CBT session?

At the beginning of your first session, you will be eased in gently . Your therapist will introduce themselves and will give you a chance to do the same; they may just ask some simple and general questions about you – perhaps your profession, and where you are from, etc.