What happens in the first therapy session?

In the first therapy session, your therapist focuses on understanding your concerns and goals—without judgment and without pressure to "say the perfect thing." Typically, you can expect: 1) Understanding your current situation: what's bothering you, how long it has been happening, and what you've tried so far 2) A brief background: important life context, relationships, work/study stress, sleep, routine, and health factors 3) Clarifying goals: what you want to feel, do, or handle better (e.g., "less anxiety," "better communication," "more control over impulses," "improved self-worth") 4) Next steps: your therapist explains what approach may fit, how sessions can be structured, and how progress will be tracked You do NOT need to share everything on Day 1. It's okay to take your time. Many people feel nervous—your therapist will pace the session with you. By the end of the first session, you should leave with: • clarity on your main themes • a tentative plan (frequency, focus areas) • a sense of whether you feel comfortable with the therapist If you want, we can also share simple between-session practices (journaling prompts, coping tools, boundaries, communication exercises).