What can I expect at my first counselling session?

We’ll break the ice

We will start with some pleasantries to help break the ice, and take a moment to get to know one another.

I’ll explain and ask for your consent

Next I will ask for what is called ‘informed consent’. I will explain the counselling process, and answer your questions to ensure we are comfortable working together.

We will discuss your past experiences

If you have had past counselling experience, I will ask you about it. What have you tried? What worked for you? What didn’t work?

I will ask to understand your ‘why’

We will cover the reason you have decided to take counselling sessions. Why did you choose to come and talk with me today?

We’ll review your history

We will discuss the background of your issue, how long you have dealt with it, and how it has affected you. It will help if you can provide some examples. Together we will assess your needs, and continue to dive into what brought you to Tanglewood.

We’ll set some achievable goals

In order to determine if counselling is successful for you, first we need to define what success looks like. Here we will set some goals and milestones that help inform our sessions together. We will likely need additional time to complete the goal-setting process.

We’ll talk about next steps

At the end of the first session, we should have an idea about what to focus on and what direction we are going in. We will likely have decided on one small step to take before the next session. We will continue set goals and monitor progress as we go.

It’s normal to be a little nervous. If you’ve never been in counselling, try not to worry. My approach is kind and non-judgemental, and I’m confident you’ll be okay.