If you’ve never been to therapy before, the first appointment can feel like a strangely big unknown.
Do I need to know exactly what I want to talk about?
Am I supposed to tell my entire life story?
What if I get there and suddenly have nothing to say?
The good news is that you don’t need to arrive prepared with a perfectly organized explanation of yourself.
A first therapy session is usually much more about getting oriented.
Your therapist may ask what brought you in, what has been feeling difficult lately, and what you would like to be different. You might also talk about relationships, work, family, health, past experiences, or anything else that helps provide context for what is happening now.
You are not expected to cover everything in one session.
In fact, you probably won’t.
The beginning of therapy is also an opportunity for you to get a sense of your therapist. You can ask questions, talk about what you are hoping for, and notice how it feels to have the conversation.
Therapy is collaborative. You are allowed to have preferences. You are allowed to ask why something is being discussed. And you are allowed to say when you aren’t ready to talk about something yet.
There is no perfect way to begin.
You just have to begin somewhere.
