If this is your first time visiting a therapist, it may help put you at ease and help you get better results if you know what to expect.

During your first session, your therapist will ask certain questions to get to know you and about your life. These questions help your therapist complete an initial assessment of your situation. Some questions may include:

• Your reasons and hopes in seeking therapy now
• Questions about your personal history and current situation
• Your current symptoms and how they may be affecting your day to day life and relationships

Therapy is a collaborative effort. The therapy experience will not be valuable unless you take an active role. Here are some tips on how to make your therapy experience more valuable:

• Be open and honest. Therapists are trained to ask questions to get to know you and your circumstances, but they aren’t mind-readers. By being open and honest with your thoughts and feelings, this will allow the therapist to do their job more effectively to better serve you.
• Be prepared. Be ready to discuss what has been on your mind. Create a list if you find that helpful to cover what you want to talk about during the 50 minute session.
• Ask questions. You will be more comfortable the more you know how therapy works and what to expect. If your therapist said something you didn’t understand, don’t be afraid to ask her to repeat.
• Evaluate your expectations for therapy. Therapy is a process rather than a quick fix to your problems. If you are ready to work on the issues you’re bringing into therapy, your commitment and effort along with a good and trusting relationship with your therapist can be a helpful tool towards resolving problems.