Scheduling your first therapy appointment is a significant milestone on your path to recovery. Especially if you’ve never been before, it can feel overwhelming or a little nerve-wracking when you don't know what to expect. But remember, you’ve already taken one of the most challenging steps by making the appointment and committing to starting this process.
While everyone’s experience will be unique to them, we’re here to walk you through some common aspects of working with a counselor and what to expect from your first therapy sessions to help you feel more at ease as you begin this journey.
How to prepare for your first therapy session
Every counselor works in a different way, but knowing as much as you can about the type of therapist you’ll be seeing and the work you’ll be doing can help you feel more prepared and relaxed as you approach your first session.
You may be considering several different counselors to work with, and choosing the right therapist for your specific needs is important to get right. When you work with someone you trust and who has experience in helping individuals with a similar background to you, you’re more likely to feel open to sharing what you’re struggling with.
Along with finding a therapist who aligns with your background and needs, you should also look at the type of therapy that will be most helpful for you. For instance, many offices offer CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy, while others may focus more on mindfulness-based treatment or acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Before you go to your first session, do some research on the approach your therapist uses so you have a better understanding of the type of work you’ll be doing.
Once you’re ready to book your first therapy session, reach out to the office of your chosen counselor to schedule your initial assessment. Your first appointment could be anywhere from a few days to two weeks away, so make sure you get something on the schedule as soon as possible.
Plan to spend at least 60 minutes in your session, along with time to wait before, but confirm this with the office staff as intake appointments can sometimes be longer than your recurring sessions.
If this is your first time in therapy, you may want to block out some time on your calendar after your session too. While this is a positive step in your recovery, it can also be stressful and emotionally draining. Give yourself time to decompress after, either to relax or start thinking about any homework you have ahead of the next session.
Once your appointment is scheduled
You’ll likely be sent a packet of information to complete ahead of your intake appointment. This is to help your therapist understand your history, why you’re interested in therapy at this stage of your life, and so they can begin to prepare a tailored care pathway for you.
Some of the information you may need to provide could include:
Your personal and family history
Details on previous therapeutic or medical treatment
Recent changes that have prompted you to seek therapy now
Challenges you’re currently facing
Your goals for therapy
You’ll also need to fill out information about your health insurance for billing purposes, along with consent forms allowing your therapist to treat you and receive, or share, details with any medical practitioners you’re currently working with.
During your first session
When you first sit down with your new therapist, they’ll often begin by getting your informed consent for treatment. This includes informing you of the benefits of therapy, along with what risks or potential outcomes you could see. You likely filled out a form about this during your intake, but they’ll review it with you at this first session and give you time for questions.
Your therapist will understand that you’re nervous, so they’ll start by asking you a number of questions based on the information you provided in your intake questionnaire. They’ll also tell you a little about themselves, like their education or areas of focus, so you get a better idea of how their experience aligns with your goals.
By the end of your first session, you should have a treatment plan for ongoing sessions, which may include both one on one and group therapy appointments. You may also have some homework to work on before your next session.
Questions you might want to ask
Don’t forget that you can ask your counselor questions too! This first session is as much about you getting to know them and how they work as it is about you. If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few first therapy session question prompts to help:
What are your expectations of me outside of our sessions?
How involved will I be in creating and monitoring my own treatment plans?
How many sessions will I need?
How will you be measuring my progress?
Is there a way to contact you between sessions if needed?
Remember, your therapist has likely heard every question you’re asking before. There’s no need to worry about saying the “wrong” thing, even once you move into a group therapy setting. Being open and honest from the start is going to get you the best results. Your therapist isn’t there to judge you, so ask whatever questions you need to make you feel more comfortable.
What you might experience in your first months in therapy
Like any good relationship, your initial appointment will be mostly focused on getting to know each other. Once you’ve established a solid foundation with your therapist, you’ll move into more therapeutic-focused work.
How your treatment progresses will depend on why you’re seeking therapy and what your specific needs are. For instance, if you need support due to substance use disorder, there are several practical aspects to your recovery that you should be aware of upfront.
During your first few months of detox and withdrawal, you may experience post-acute-withdrawal syndrome (PAWS). This is your body’s physical and mental response to the sudden removal or decrease in the substances you’ve been using.
In other words, your brain is recalibrating after a period of active addiction. Memory, coordination, and mood changes during this time are normal, but can feel upsetting and confusing. Depending on the severity of your addiction, PAWS can last anywhere from a few months to two years.
While in this withdrawal period, though, your therapist will be there to support you and help you manage the mental and physical aspects associated. You’ll likely have more intensive outpatient treatment in your first months in therapy, before reducing these over time. This is an essential element of your treatment, as you’ll be establishing the core skills that you need for long term recovery.
What to expect at ICS
When you work with the team at Integrative Counseling Services, you’ll benefit from decades of professional experience in a supportive and welcoming setting.
Once you’ve called to schedule your first session, one of our licensed counselors will meet with you for an hour to complete an American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) assessment. This is a six-dimensional review to help us determine the severity of your issue and the recommended level of care you’ll need.
From there, we’ll work with you to make an ongoing treatment plan and create goals based on this. After this session, we’ll also get you scheduled for a care pathway that will include a combination of one on one appointments and group therapy.
Remember that therapy is a process. Particularly if you’re attending for issues such as substance use disorder, we are committed to supporting you over time to make durable change and have a transformational experience. And this is the first step. Contact us today to schedule your initial appointment and begin your journey to recovery.