Are you approaching counselling for the first time?

Starting counselling for the first time can bring a mix of curiosity, uncertainty, and even nervousness. That's completely understandable. This page explains what you can expect from your first session and how counselling generally works, so you can arrive feeling a little more prepared.

Our first session is an opportunity for us to get to know each other. We'll talk about what has brought you to counselling, explore your current situation, and discuss what you hope to gain from therapy.

​

Questions I might ask include:

What brought you to therapy and led you to seek counselling?

Have you tried counselling before?

​

Then, we will go over information about your personal history, current situation, your life and the challenges you are experiencing. We will slowly start exploring your challenges and their impact on your life.

​

What happens in a session?

Counselling is a collaborative process. My role isn't to tell you what to do, but to help you better understand yourself, make sense of your experiences, and support you as you move towards the changes that matter to you.

A strong therapeutic relationship is an important part of that process. My aim is to create a space where you feel safe enough to speak openly, knowing you'll be met with curiosity and respect, without judgement.​

​

Getting the most from counselling.
To get the most out of counselling, use this time to increase awareness, learn new skills and be actively involved in getting what you want from the sessions. Be open to moving outside your comfort zone and to reflecting on the work done in the counselling room between sessions.

Sometimes, it can be helpful to write or draw after a session and bring this to your next session. 
If, at any point, you are left with concerns or discomfort during a session, to allow the counselling relationship to grow, it is crucial that you tell me about it as it happens.

​

How to benefit the most from counselling.

As therapy is teamwork, here are some ideas to ensure it becomes a valuable experience:

• Be open.
  You don't need to have everything figured out before you come to counselling. The more you're able to share, the better I'll be able to understand your experiences and support you.

• Stay curious.
  There are no silly questions. If you're unsure about the counselling process or would like me to explain something differently, please ask.

• Notice what happens between sessions.
  If something feels important, make a note of it. New thoughts, emotions, or situations that arise between appointments can often become valuable starting points for our next conversation.

• Bring what feels most important.
  Even if we've planned to focus on a particular topic, you're always welcome to bring up something that's been on your mind. Your current experiences matter.

• Share your reactions.
  Sometimes therapy brings up unexpected thoughts or feelings. If something doesn't sit well with you, or if you have questions about our work together, I encourage you to tell me. These conversations are often an important part of the therapeutic process.

• Be patient with yourself.
  Meaningful change usually takes time. Counselling isn't about finding quick fixes but about developing greater understanding, building new ways of coping, and creating lasting change.

​

The benefits of counselling

Counselling offers a space to pause, reflect, and make sense of what you're experiencing. Having someone listen with curiosity, compassion, and without judgement can help you better understand yourself, your emotions, and the challenges you're facing.

​

Over time, counselling may help you:

• Develop greater self-awareness.

• Better understand your thoughts, emotions, and patterns.

• Build confidence and self-esteem.

• Strengthen emotional regulation and coping strategies.

• Process difficult experiences and unresolved emotions.

• Improve relationships and communication.

• Navigate life transitions with greater clarity.

• Create meaningful and lasting change.

​

About confidentiality

Confidentiality in counselling is paramount.  Everything discussed in our sessions together is confidential, with some exceptions:

• As a therapist, I'm bound to have regular supervision. I may discuss our work with my supervisor, but your identity will remain anonymous.

• If I'm subpoenaed by a court of law

• If, for any reason, I believe you or someone else might be in danger.

 

How you may feel after a therapy session

Depending on the topics discussed, it's common to feel a range of emotions after a session, and everyone reacts differently to different sessions. You might come out of your session feeling:

• relieved if you've shared something important and felt heard and understood

• energised, if you've realised something new about yourself or set a new goal to work on

• drained, if you've found the session challenging or complex work

• frustrated if you didn't get what you wanted out of your session or haven't felt heard or understood

• upset or overwhelmed if the session has brought up painful or difficult memories or feelings.

​

Feel free to contact me if you have any further questions about your journey