What to expect during your first counselling session?

You have taken that huge step to find the right counsellor and have booked your first session and may be wondering what to expect. I thought it would useful to share how I work during my first session with a new client. Please be aware that counsellors will all work in a different way.

Before our first session I will send you a couple of short forms to complete. This is just to gather some basic information from you such as address, GP contact details and if you are on any medication. I also send out a consent form detailing how your information will be used.

When you arrive for your first session whether it is face to face, online or walk and talk the first meeting is about building rapport and ensuring that we are the right fit for each other. You will receive a genuine warm welcome, my aim is to reduce any anxiety as much as possible.We begin the session by going through the counselling contract. This sounds very official but please don't worry. You aren't signing up for a set amount of sessions or locking yourself into a contract. This contract sets out the basis of our therapeutic relationship. It includes information about the governing bodies that I belong to and what to do if you aren't happy about the service that you receive from me. It sets out the confidentiality agreement and the rare occasions that this would be broken. It also includes the price of the sessions and how they will be delivered either face to face, online or walk and talk. It gives information on how sessions are booked and what to do if you or I can't attend.

Once this is complete both of us will have a copy. The next stage I will complete an informal assessment. This isn't a paper based exercise but a chat about any previous experiences that you have had of counselling, the modality used, what you found helpful and anything that you didn't find helpful. This helps me to know how to best work with you and gives you the client an understanding of how I work.

After this is complete the remainder of the session is dedicated to you telling your story and explaining why you have come to counselling and what you would like to get from your experience. This helps us to identify what we will be working on and how you would like to work. This is where the work and your counselling journey truly begins.