First time visiting a psychotherapist: what to expect?
The world of psychotherapy is full of different approaches and it can get very confusing on what to expect during the first session, even if you have already had some experience in the past. As a client and as a psychotherapist I’ve been through different experiences as a first-timer, so I hope my experience can help you answer some of these questions, and let you know you’re not alone.
The first time I went to psychotherapy, I was studying for my bachelor’s degree in psychology, but I still had no defined idea of what to expect during the psychotherapy process, especially during the first session. I knew that the therapist will probably interview me and ask me for some data, but that was all the knowledge I had.
Through my practice as a psychotherapist for the last six years, I’ve found out that a lot of my clients have a similar feeling as I did during that first time, so I’ve started offering some idea of what they can expect from the process and the first few sessions.
If you’re looking to start psychotherapy, you might be in front of an uncomfortable feeling of doubt and wondering how it will be to be in front of a stranger that will ask you about your life. This is a process that almost every psychotherapy client has been through, and these feelings are completely normal.
I know that going to a stranger to pour your heart out or talk about sensitive issues sounds a bit overwhelming. Just have in mind that this stranger has been through a training process to learn how to listen to you without any judgment and help you analyze and cope better with emotions and problems, no matter what type of evidence-based psychotherapy they choose to practice.
Before you start any psychotherapy process, here are some tips that might be helpful:
- The first session is about getting to know you and your problem. Your therapist will ask some questions but primarily will listen to you.
- Some quizzes or inventories might be added during this process (probably during the second interview), but that depends on the type of psychotherapy they practice or the type of problem you share during the first interview.
- Some processes might take up to 3–4 sessions of evaluation, depending on the problem and type of psychotherapy.
2. Your therapist might ask you if the session can be recorded or if it’s possible to take some notes. You’ll decide if this is ok, but this is to facilitate the evaluation process. These recordings or notes are strictly confidential, but you MUST be asked before your therapist starts implementing this.
3. Your therapist will explain to you how therapy works. The rules about the sessions, cancelation policy, and work ethic.
- Some therapists even give you this in writing and you have to sign it.
4. By the end of the session, your therapist will do a small synthesis about what you talked about and will give you some feedback which includes the understanding of your problem and possible treatment.
5. Don’t be afraid to ask about credentials. It is your right as a client to know what training and certifications your therapist has.
Therapy is a self-knowledge process and sometimes it might get a little bit overwhelming, but you should never feel attacked or misjudged by your therapist, especially during the first session. Nevertheless, throughout your process, there’ll probably be some confrontational moments with yourself, that’s why it takes a lot of courage and effort to go through psychotherapy, and what better than to be accompanied by a well-trained professional.
At Willow therapy, we understand the need of feeling comfortable with the person you’re starting the process with, so if you are looking for a therapist, you can schedule a free 30-minute consultation at https://trywillowtherapy.com/therapists
