Attending a therapy session for the first time can be a daunting experience, and you may be filled with a whole jumble of emotions and questions. Below I will clarify what you can expect in the first few ‘assessment’ sessions to help ease some of those ‘starting out’ nerves!
In the first session, the focus is on you and the therapist getting to know each other and it is an opportunity for you to see if you would like to continue working with them or not. The therapist will explore with you what brings you to therapy and what you hope to get from it. It’s also a chance for you to ask any questions you may have about the therapist, including their approach to therapy and how they tend to work. It’s ok to ask the therapist what qualifications or experience they have - you want to know that you’re getting a good service! Remember that this is a potential financial commitment, so it’s ok to ask any questions you have or share some of your concerns or doubts around therapy. The therapist might also ask you about risk, mental health or psychiatric history and whether you have had any previous therapy or treatment for mental health. With an integrative approach, the therapist is likely to start to explore childhood, family and current/past relationships with you.
All of this will likely take 2 - 3 sessions and then you can discuss contracting if you would like to continue working with your therapist!