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Julie Answers: What is the first session like?
John asked: I’m looking for someone to help manage certain situations in my day-to-day and long-term. I’ve never tried therapy before. I’m recently divorced and struggling with stress at work.
Dear John,
Your question is one I think many people have when they are considering therapy for the first time. Along with the other big questions about how it all works in general, such as: How does simply talking about your problems help you solve them? How is working with a therapist different than talking things out with a friend or family member? — it is natural to wonder: How does the whole process get started? How do you sit down with a total stranger and go from the “How are you?” and “Pleased to meet you” level of conversation to talking about personal matters, things you have maybe not even completely put into words before, either inside your own mind or out loud? I will try to demystify the process here, keeping in mind that therapists differ in how they start gathering information, getting to know you, and helping you become comfortable with sharing your thoughts, feelings, and concerns.
Some therapists have a somewhat systematic and formal process of starting off. They might ask you to fill out a form before your first session, asking general information about your family of origin (history and structure, birth…
