What can I expect in my first session?
The thought of a first session can be intimidating, so it's perfectly natural to wonder what to expect.
Usually, 3 things will happen:
you and your therapist will get to know each other;
you'll discuss your concerns, expectations, and goals;
you'll be clarified about the rules and how the sessions work.
The introductory session allows us to explore what brought you to therapy, understand what you hope to gain, and clarify any questions you may have. It’s also an opportunity to see if we’re a good fit and begin building a safe, supportive foundation for your process.
Remember, there's no pressure to share or figure out everything at once —the process unfolds at your pace.
What is a therapeutic process and how does it unfold?
A therapeutic process unfolds when you and your therapist work together to comprehend what’s been weighing you down and figure out how to move forward in a healthier way.
The initial sessions aim to explore and understand what’s been happening, what patterns keep showing up, and how they connect to current symptoms. This helps to bring clarity to things that might feel overwhelming or confusing.
Next, the focus becomes actively identifying, reflecting, and processing thoughts, emotions, and behaviors associated with your psychological distress. This phase allows you to make sense of things and express what's been bottled up, often leading to a feeling of relief.
Then comes the stage of developing new and more constructive behaviors and habits. Simultaneously, it's about putting things into action - real change happens when you take what you’ve learned in therapy and apply it to your everyday life.
Note that this is just an illustration, as each therapeutic process is unique and oriented by the client's goals.
What will we be doing during the sessions?
My practice relies on building a strong therapeutic alliance, setting collaborative goals, and monitoring your moment-to-moment subjective experience throughout a session. This approach helps create a safe setting for you to openly share, experience, and express your thoughts and emotions.
Through our interactions, experiential exercises, and new perspectives, we'll be able to foster awareness and personal development. This will help you detach from past patterns and disruptive expectations.
If I'm not clinically diagnosed with anything, why bother going to a session?
We don't all share the exact same needs and goals in life. Moreover, what we want, need, and expect may change over time.
Therapy is meant to be a safe space for your self-discovery, as much as a clinical setting for symptom treatment. So, while oftentimes symptoms bring us into therapy, many other reasons or problems might be on our minds. Daily life and its challenges can be tricky to deal with on our own, without necessarily posing as a psychological disorder (for example, a breakup, change in residence or job, procrastination, isolation, or simply the will to develop self-knowledge).
Remember, your goals dictate what we focus on - and sometimes, figuring out your goals is the main objective.
I've had therapy before and I did not like it! What's the point of trying again?
Simply put, we naturally identify and connect with some people more than others.
The same applies to therapy - some therapists will feel like the right fit for you, while others won't. That gut feeling is relevant because it's not just about handling professional techniques (many of which you've probably already found detailed by Doctor Google himself). At its core, it's a relationship based on trust - finding someone who makes you feel safe, heard, and actively engaged is key to a successful therapeutic process.
If you're considering restarting therapy, know that you can either continue where you left off or begin a completely new chapter of self-discovery. Our past experiences don't have to dictate our future - things can be different this time.