What now? What to expect for your first therapy session
Preparing for Your First Session
You have decided that you are going to see a therapist, called the practice, and have your first appointment scheduled. Now you are feeling anxious, wondering what’s going to happen. Does this sound familiar? You’re not alone, many of the the people I meet with the first time are feeling nervous. The best way to reduce that anxiety is to make the unknown, known. So let’s break it down.
The first session has a few different components that remain the same industry-wide. There may be some slight variations, but the general formula still applies. Most intake appointments are 1 hour long, meaning that you will go over a lot of information in that time. The more you can do before your appointment, the more time you will have to get to everything you want to talk about.
What you need to bring. You need to bring your driver’s license/state ID. You will also be required to provide a copy of your insurance card(s).
Reading, filling out, and signing the intake paperwork.** This can have a variety of different documents, but usually has: general consent for therapy, privacy practices notice, emergency contacts, payment authorization, and consents for release of information. Some practices may send these forms to you electronically prior to your first session. There may also be a short history form to fill out and submit. If your meeting over telehealth, you may be required to complete these forms before your appointment. **If you are under 18, your parent(s)/guardian(s) will need to sign the forms too.
Information about you. You will be asked what the current challenge is for you that brings you in for therapy. Giving some of your life history is pretty standard. Some insurance/practices require more information than others, so that is entirely dependent. You may be asked about your relationships (romantic, family, etc.).
Symptoms you are experiencing. In order to charge insurance for therapy, it is required that each person have at least one mental health diagnosis. Sometimes this is just a discussion of your overall experiences; sometimes you’ll complete specific measures to evaluate symptoms.
Medical stuff. You will need to share the names of your doctors and may be asked for their contact info. Nothing will be shared with your doctors unless you sign a consent form specifically for the practice to talk with your doctor. In Illinois, this question is a legal requirement. You’ll be asked about medical conditions and current medications.
Your questions. What would you like to know? This is an opportunity for you to ask your therapist about their therapy process and expectations.
After all of this is done, the final step is to determine if this is good fit for you. If not, referrals will be provided to other clinicians/practices that may be a better fit. This is something that both you and your therapist will determine.
Why would this not work? Every situation depends (I know, that’s not helpful). From a therapist’s perspective, I may refer out if I believe that a person’s needs are not something I have treated before. We are required not to practice outside of our experiences. For example, treating substance abuse has it’s own special licensure. From your perspective, maybe this therapist just isn’t the vibe? Maybe this doesn’t feel comfortable?
If you both agree, then the final step is to decide how often you will meet and schedule your next appointment.
That’s it, all done! You’ve got this.
You don’t have to go through it alone. If you're ready to explore therapy, I would love to connect. You can find me at Untangling Chaos Counseling, where we provide compassionate mental health support for teens and adults across Illinois. We specialize in ADHD, grief, infertility, and caregiver support.
If you're in a crisis or feeling unsafe, please don’t wait—call 911 or head to your nearest ER. Your safety matters.
