Going to the Counselor for the First Time

Are you going to see your counselor or therapist for the first time?  Though no two counseling sessions are the same, and every office has different policies, this blog post will cover some of the standards procedures involved in going to the counselor the first time. 

Paperwork: The first time you go to see your counselor, mediator, or therapist, you should make sure that you arrive at least fifteen minutes before your scheduled appointment.  This is because you can expect about fifteen minutes worth of paperwork to complete.  This will include getting your insurance information in order (if you have insurance) and establishing your file.  Which brings us to the next thing that you can expect when you go to your first counseling session.


Extensive Background Questionnaire:  You can expect a lengthy background survey when you attend your first counseling session.  Some of the questions asked on these surveys may make you uncomfortable.  If you are uncomfortable responding on this document at your first appointment, don't.  While it is true that you are trying to establish open lines of communication between you and your therapist, this is your first appointment.  The goal of the first appointment is not to uncover the source of your problems and immediately address them.  The goal of your first counseling session is to get comfortable with your counselor.  Therefore, you should not do things that make you uncomfortable; that will come later.  Nonetheless, the information that you provide on the background questionnaire will help your counselor know more about you, and he or she needs to know about you if he or she is to ever help you, so share as much as you can.

A "Warming" Session: McHenry Counseling experts say "Don't expect any breakthroughs on your first appointment."  At your first counseling session, two things should be occurring.  First, you should be evaluating your counselor or therapist.  Is this a person with whom you will be comfortable sharing your feelings and inner-workings?  If your not feeling comfortable with this person, perhaps you should continue looking.  Secondly, that counselor or therapist will likely ask you questions about your background.  In particular, they will ask you questions about your family and your childhood.  It may take the entirety of your first session for him or her to gather your background and family history.  It may take longer.  But you should know that you are unlikely to stumble upon any breakthroughs in your first session.

Finding a counselor or therapist with whom you are comfortable may be an arduous task, but if you are not comfortable sharing with your counselor or therapist, then you are unlikely to find any solutions to your problems.  While it may be frustrating filling out more than one background questionnaire, finding happiness and inner-peace is worth the trouble.