Your first counselling session is an important step, and it’s natural to feel a little uncertain about what to expect. Think of it as a gentle beginning — a chance for us to get to know one another and start building a connection based on trust, warmth and understanding.
During this initial meeting, you’ll have space to talk about what’s brought you to counselling and what you’re hoping to gain from it. We’ll explore your hopes and expectations together, and if you’ve had counselling or therapy before, you’re welcome to share what worked well for you and what didn’t. This helps me understand how best to support you.
We’ll also talk through confidentiality, so you can feel reassured about the privacy and safety of what you share. I’ll ask a few questions about your background and upbringing, as well as your current life and work situations. Sometimes this might include aspects like health, sleep or general wellbeing — all the parts that make up who you are and how you experience life.
Throughout our conversation, you’ll find that humour, compassion and empathy are central to how I work. I believe that counselling doesn’t have to feel heavy all the time; moments of lightness and shared humanity can be just as healing.
Most importantly, this first session is an opportunity for you to ask questions, express any concerns, and see how it feels to talk with me. Counselling is a deeply personal process, and it matters that we relate well to each other. This meeting allows us both to get a sense of that.
By the end of our time together, you’ll hopefully have a clearer sense of what counselling with me might look like, and whether it feels like the right fit for you. My aim is for you to leave feeling heard, respected and gently understood — the start of a space where you can begin to explore, heal and grow at your own pace.
