5 things to know before your first session with a therapist

I’m writing this with the hope that it will help ease some of the anxiety that seeps in after you’ve finally decided to take the plunge and seek help from a mental health professional, and are looking to alleviate some of that uncertainty by knowing what to expect.

1. Your first meeting is typically an ‘assessment’ session and will primarily be for ‘information gathering’. This means that your therapist will ask you a lot of questions and want to use this time to really get to know you. This includes but is not limited to questions about:

· the here-and- now: e.g. what brings you to therapy?

· your family background, your childhood, parents, siblings, peers, education

· your current social support network- your family, relationships and friends

· your medical history- physical and mental health, medication and/or diagnoses.

2. Remember, this is also an assessment session for you, which means that you too should use this as a period to assess the therapist and decide whether she is the ‘right fit for you’. You can do this by considering whether you will feel comfortable to explore your thoughts and feelings in a safe way with her and if you are being treated respectfully. It is vital that your therapist is non-judgmental and is able to demonstrate warmth and empathy towards you and your story.

3. It often takes a few meetings before you are able to build a rapport or therapeutic relationship with your counsellor, so only share as much as feels safe for you in the first meeting with them.

4. Ensure that your therapist has explained the rules of confidentiality to you and that there are clear boundaries in place. The therapeutic space should be collaborative, empowering of you (the client) and attend to ethical practices.

5. Typically, therapists offer weekly sessions that are 50 minutes long. If you agree to begin therapy, your assessment session may end with the idea of setting up a day and time when you and your therapist will meet for weekly sessions. However, the therapist may feel the need for another assessment session before sharing their formulation or ideas for therapy and similarly, if you’re not sure what you’ve decided, you can ask for some time to think through this and get in touch again.

About the Author: Mallika Verma

Mallika Verma is a psychologist, and couples and family therapist. She has previously worked across a range of public and private healthcare settings in India and the UK. She now practices privately in Mumbai and Delhi. Learn more at: www.mallikaverma.com or get in touch with her on: mallikavermatherapy@gmail.com.