{"id":21498,"date":"2017-10-05T11:00:08","date_gmt":"2017-10-05T10:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/?p=21498"},"modified":"2023-03-09T19:07:39","modified_gmt":"2023-03-09T19:07:39","slug":"first-therapy-session-what-happens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/first-therapy-session-what-happens.htm","title":{"rendered":"What Exactly Happens in a First Therapy Session?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

By: Banalities<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

by Andrea M. Darcy<\/span><\/p>\n

Interested in trying therapy<\/a>, but nervous as you aren’t sure what it actually involves?<\/p>\n

Read on to learn what to expect at your very first therapy session. (And for starters, it’s rarely like what you might have seen in films or TV<\/a>!).<\/em><\/p>\n

How a first therapy session works<\/h2>\n

So what really goes on, then?<\/p>\n

1. You arrive on time.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

This really matters with therapy. Why?<\/p>\n

If you are late, it\u2019s highly unlikely your slot will be able to go overtime. Your therapist will have another session and client to deal with. This can mean there isn’t enough time to properly discuss your issues or see if therapy, and the therapist, are for you.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Trying online therapy<\/a>? It\u2019s still advisable to arrive at your computer a few minutes early.<\/strong> This lessens stress if technological issues happen.<\/p>\n

2. Your therapist welcomes you into the therapy room (or to the online session).<\/span><\/h3>\n
\"\"<\/a>

By: Jaysin Trevino<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Therapy has moved on since Freud<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Modern therapy very rarely consists of <\/strong>lying on a divan and staring at the ceiling, as your therapist says very little from behind a giant desk.<\/p>\n

Instead, your therapist will welcome you to come in and sit<\/strong> (upright!) on a couch or comfortable chairs, with some friendly small talk as you settle in.<\/p>\n

Generally you will sit<\/strong> relatively close to each other <\/strong>and facing each other.<\/p>\n

A therapy room itself should be quiet, clean, private, and<\/strong> the sort of space you can relax in.<\/p>\n

If you are doing online therapy<\/a>, your therapist should still have a<\/strong> clutter-free background, be in a quiet private room, be using good light that you can see them clearly in, and use a good microphone. If he or she isn\u2019t meeting these requirements, you might want to mention your preferences that they do.<\/p>\n

3. You are asked to pay for your session (now or maybe later).<\/span><\/h3>\n

For online therapy<\/a>, or phone therapy, you generally pay in advance these days. But for in-person therapy, this is up to your therapist. Some ask for it up front, others at the end of the session.<\/p>\n

\"first

By: Joe Houghton<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

If your therapist doesn\u2019t ask for your payment up front, but you feel you\u2019d relax more if you got the payment out of the way, there is nothing to stop you from saying so.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

4. The therapist asks you about what has bought you to therapy.<\/span><\/h3>\n

During a first therapy session your therapist will work to<\/strong> understand what it is that has bought you to seek therapy, and how he or she feels therapy can best help you.<\/p>\n

They will ask general questions, such as:<\/strong><\/p>\n