What to Expect When You’re Starting Counselling
Counselling can be helpful for anyone who wants to make positive changes in their life. Together we’ll identify the issues you want to work on, define your goals, and make a plan for moving forward.
Going to your first counselling session can be intimidating. Especially when you don’t know what to expect. In this article, I’ll talk about the early steps in counselling, to give you a sense of what’s ahead.
Getting Started
One way to get started is by booking a free 20-minute phone call with me. Research suggests that the relationship between client and counsellor is the most important factor for success.
This call gives us a chance to get to know each other, to see if we might be a good fit. If at any point you decide that I’m not the psychologist for you, there’s no pressure to continue.
During this call, I’ll ask about what you’d like to focus on in counselling. I want to make sure that I have the knowledge and skills to support you effectively. There are some areas where I have limited experience, such as helping people recover from drug or alcohol addictions. In that case, I might recommend another professional with the necessary expertise. My goal is to find the best-suited counsellor for each unique person.
You can also ask me any questions you have. Sometimes people want to learn more about my past work experience, my counselling style, or what our meetings will be like.
At the end of the consultation call, we can book a first session. Or I can give you time to think about our conversation. Again, there’s no pressure to go forward at any point. I offer online booking, so you can always schedule an appointment for yourself when the time is right.
Paperwork
The next step is to read over and sign some forms. I’ll send you a link to complete the paperwork online before your first appointment. The forms help make sure we're on the same page about things like fees, confidentiality, my qualifications, and so on. I want you to be fully informed about how things work before we get started.
If you have any questions or concerns at this point, please let me know. I can give you more information or explain why I’ve put certain policies in place.
On this initial paperwork, I’ll also ask you to share some information about yourself, such as what you hope to take away from our conversations and what you see as your biggest strengths. And I have a list inviting people to check off situations they’ve faced in the past or present, such as relationship issues, violence, or financial problems.
Some people feel more comfortable sharing personal information in writing at first, while others prefer to talk in person. And some people aren’t comfortable sharing this stuff at all. In that case, feel free to leave this part blank! Whatever you choose is totally fine.
Why do I ask about these experiences? Sometimes people find that what they’ve experienced in the past plays a role in what brought them to counselling now. But it’s up to you to decide if this information is relevant.
First Session
The first session will be a bit different than the following appointments. The aim of the first session is for me to learn more about you. This background will give me a full picture of the situations and issues you’re dealing with, as well as your strengths and resources. It will also help us make an initial plan for our work together. So, in the first session, I’ll focus on asking questions and gathering information.
I often ask questions about things like:
What brought you to counselling at this time
How things are going at work or school
The important people in your life, such as partners, family members, or friends
Your mood, sleep, and appetite
Your physical health and any medical issues
What you enjoy doing in your free time
Your past experiences with counselling
What you hope to take away from our conversations
Again, if you’re not comfortable talking about any of these topics, you can “pass” at any time.
At the end of the first session, we’ll talk about some early ideas on how to go forward. I’ll be interested to hear what you have in mind and I can share my ideas as well. This plan may change over time, but it’s good for us to have an initial roadmap.
If you’ve identified a few different issues for us to address, I’ll also ask where you’d like to start. I want to make sure we focus on what’s most important for you right now.
We can end the first session by booking your next appointment.
Still Feeling Unsure?
So that’s what you can expect when starting counselling! If you have any more questions, book your free phone call so we can have a one-to-one conversation.
You can also check out my Services, About, and Info pages for more information.
About Marnie Rogers-de Jong
I’m a Registered Doctoral Psychologist located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. I have a doctorate degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of Calgary. I’m passionate about helping people who feel trapped by perfectionism, anxiety, and stress. I’m available for in-person counselling in Saskatoon and video or phone sessions across Saskatchewan and Alberta.