What to Expect During Your First Therapy Appointment
Okay you have been thinking about it for forever, you were able to push your fears aside, and finally took the step to reach out to a therapist and ask for help. Good job! I’m proud of you! I know it takes lots of courage. Then, still feeling hesitant, you fill out all the new client paperwork which you may put off doing for days or weeks. Finally, the day of the first appointment comes, you are feeling nervous, sitting in the parking lot debating to go inside or just leave, but again you push through and make it inside then what? Here is a breakdown of what a first appointment will look like to hopefully help calm your worries about the uncertainty.
Contrary to what most people may think, the first therapy appointment is actually not that bad due to the structure of it. First, you will meet your therapist who will briefly introduce themselves, then your therapist will go over the consent form with you informing you of their policies regarding cancellations, scheduling future appointments, risks and benefits of therapy, payments, confidentiality, etc. After that, your therapist will gather history and get to know you asking specific questions. This is the part that makes it easier on the client, because the therapist is constantly asking the questions, the client just has to answer those rather than having to come up with their own topics of conversation and issues they would like to work on like they would in future sessions. Some of the questions you can expect to be asked are “what is bringing you to therapy?” (current symptoms, feelings, thoughts, behaviors, situations you are struggling with), trauma history, which can definitely be difficult to talk about but remember you choose how much or how little you share at the beginning, relationships with family and what your emotional support system looks like, previous therapy and psychiatric history, any medical conditions or medications you are currently taking. After going through all those questions, you and your therapist will talk about goals, what are you hoping to get out of therapy? how will you want to feel? what will you want to be doing? what will you want your relationships to look like after your time in therapy? These goals will help in creating a treatment plan you and your therapist will follow and work on during the rest of treatment to help achieve said goals.
Hopefully after reading this blog you have a better idea of what to expect during your first appointment and feel a little less nervous about it. Just know that feeling nervous is also normal but do not let that stop you from getting the help you want and need.
Feeling ready yet? Contact us to book your first appointment!
Feeling hesitant still? That is ok too! Contact us to book your first free 15 minute consultation where you can ask any questions you have and make sure we are good fit before committing to a first appointment.
