Starting Therapy - What a First Session Might Feel Like

Beginning therapy can feel like a big step – it’s often a meaningful one that also comes with a lot of uncertainty.

You might find yourself wondering what you’ll say, whether you’ll be able to explain things clearly, or how it will feel to sit in the space with someone you’ve never met and speak about parts of your life that are not often shared. For some, there’s a sense of hesitation. For others, a quiet urgency. Many people feel both at the same time, and all are completely understandable.

There’s no expectation to arrive with a clear story.

In a first session with me, we begin wherever you are. I’ve found people start in all sorts of ways. Some people come with lots of things they know they want to say, others aren’t sure, and some feel uncertain about whether what they’re bringing is ‘important enough’ or ‘relevant.’ All of this is welcome and often very relevant and important!

My aim is not to direct you towards a particular conclusion or to quickly ‘figure things out,’ but to offer a space where we can begin to think and explore together. This often means going at a pace that feels manageable, rather than rushing towards clarity.

It’s likely that we will begin by exploring what has brought you to therapy at this point in time. This can include any current difficulties and also the wider context of your life - relationships, work, or patterns you’ve begun to notice in yourself. There’s no pressure to cover everything, and no expectation that things will immediately make sense.

There will be times that I ask questions, reflect and wonder about things with you - not to lead you in a particular direction - but to help create space for deeper understanding. Therapy is about developing a clearer, more compassionate awareness of yourself and your own experience.

Before arranging a first full session, we would usually have an initial phone conversation. This gives us both a chance to consider whether working together feels like a good fit, and to find a time that we can commit to consistently.

That first session is a space to begin understanding what has brought you to therapy and to get a sense of how it feels to work together.

If you’re considering therapy, it’s often because something matters - whether that’s a difficulty you’re facing, a feeling you can’t quite place, or a sense that something in your life could be different.

You don’t need to have it fully worked out before you begin.