Seeing a therapist for the first time isn’t always easy. It can make you feel vulnerable, nervous or awkward - trust me, you’re not alone in those feelings. We are here to support you during your first session and onwards. Before we begin, know that therapy is a very individualized journey. There’s no right or wrong way to do therapy and your needs and preferences will inform that journey.
Give yourself a moment to ask yourself what you want to accomplish in therapy. A common question mental health professionals will ask is what brought you to therapy. You may not have a clear answer - and that’s okay - but coming in with an idea of what you are looking to work on will help you and your therapist be sure therapy is directed to your goals
During the first session, the therapist may go over more administrative information such as confidentiality, policy information, signing some documents (e.g. an agreement form), and what is to be expected from the session. This first session is a period for you and your therapist to get to know each other. Your therapist may ask a lot of questions about you - such as goals, expectations, history - and you may feel exhausted or unfinished after your session, and that’s ok too. Try and give yourself some time after your session to unwind and process the emotions that have arisen.
There’s no definite answer about how quickly you’ll determine whether you and your therapist are a good match, but you may get a gut feeling within the first couple of sessions. Some good questions to ask yourself when deciding if you and your therapist have a good connection– do you feel like your therapist makes a sincere effort to understand you? Do you feel heard? Do you feel like their approach fits your needs?
The period of time spent in therapy sessions is very individualized and working with your therapist to address your preferences and needs are key. Generally, at the beginning of therapy, you may meet with your therapist more frequently such as weekly or biweekly to address the presenting concern. After the initial phase of treatment you may begin to notice changes and may be meeting some goals that you originally sought therapy to address. At this stage, you and your therapist may space out your sessions to longer intervals such as monthly, or every few months to continue the work while giving you ample time to practice your skills. Your mental health journey is yours and you are able to adjust the experience to what works for you.
In most cases, therapy sessions are covered by your insurance provider. Sign up and talk to one of our care coordinators to find out more information—it’s free!
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It’s possible that the first therapist you’ll see won’t have the chemistry you need and it’s perfectly fine to switch. Sometimes, they just aren’t the right fit for you - you don’t feel like you click or their approach to therapy isn’t working for you. You don’t need to stick to the first therapist you meet and not liking a therapist doesn’t mean therapy isn’t for you.
Contact the Care Team and we’ll be happy to support you in connecting you with a new therapist that meets what you’re looking for.
Reach out here