Coming to counselling for the first time can be a really daunting experience, even if you have seen a therapist or a counsellor before. It can feel quite vulnerable to go into a space knowing you are there to talk about personal or difficult things.
Knowing what to expect can make this first session easier. We hope that by removing some of the mystery about how your counselling journey begins, we can help you feel more relaxed about the process. Below are some of the things you can expect to happen at your first session with a counsellor at Leeds Mind.
When you arrive
When you arrive at Clarence House, you will be given a tour of the reception and waiting area. We have a kitchen where you are welcome to make yourself a drink, and a garden which you are welcome to use before or after your session.
Some essential paperwork
In this first session, there is some paperwork we will ask you to complete. This is different from future sessions, where our counsellors don’t normally take notes in sessions. We will run through our terms and conditions with you if you haven’t already signed them before attending, and we also do what is called a CORE-34 form.
The CORE-34 form is a questionnaire which asks you to think about how frequently you have felt certain things over the past week. The questionnaire gives us a bit of an idea about where you might be with your mental health when the sessions begin. This is something we do in the last session too.
Getting to know your counsellor
The first session is also an opportunity for the counsellor to introduce themselves to you, tell you a little bit about how they work and to answer any questions you might have. It is a good opportunity for the counsellor to hear first hand what brings you to counselling and what you are hoping to get out of the sessions together.
It can feel difficult and even overwhelming to try to condense what you want to say into that first session. Opening up to someone you have only just met can be daunting. Our counsellors know how hard this process is and will guide you through the first session gently, at a pace that feels right for you.
Every counsellors essentials
Every counsellor starts their counselling relationships in different ways, but some things are essential, regardless of the counsellor you are given.
After speaking to our counsellors about the different ways they run their first sessions, a few things stood out that are consistent across the board. It is important to all of us to:
- help you feel at ease in what can be a scary space,
- to make sure you know how counselling works
- to explain what you can expect from the sessions.
The first session is also an opportunity for you and the counsellor to get to know each other a little bit better and to start to build trust and feelings of safety.
It’s okay to feel nervous
Starting counselling can bring up lots of thoughts and feelings. You might feel nervous about bringing up difficult topics or not knowing what to expect. You might feel frustration or worry about what will happen, all the way to feeling excited about the journey you are about to take. Above all, you should feel proud of yourself for making that first difficult step.
Our counsellors are here to walk alongside you and support you whilst we navigate any or all of these feelings together.
Counselling at Leeds Mind
Counselling is a great opportunity to process your thoughts, feelings, stresses and struggles in a safe space with a trained counsellor. If you think you could benefit from talking therapies, we would love to hear from you.
You can learn more about this service and self-refer for counselling here and we will be in touch to discuss your referral with you.
