The decision to seek counselling can be a little scary, especially if you don’t really know what to expect.  Whatever your reason, you will be more at ease if you know how the process works.

The benefits of speaking to a professional counsellor are that they will be able to help you to:

• Find ways to reduce your stress
• Create management skills to assist in improving your relationships
• Reach your personal goals
• Find the most effective way to deal with challenges in everyday life.
• Manage depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues

In your first counselling session, you will typically be asked certain questions about you and your life in general, including why you sought therapy, your presenting symptoms and your personal history and current situation.  This information contributes to the counsellor making an initial assessment of your situation and will assist in bringing about positive change, alter any unwanted behaviours, and build motivation and self-confidence.

Counsellors are trained to ask the right questions but can only do their job effectively if the client is open and honest, so it is helpful if you can describe what brings you to therapy and your feelings around the problem.  The counsellor can then assist you in working towards creating desired goals and build new intervention skills and techniques that are favourable to you.

In order to be comfortable and understand the counselling experience, it is important that you feel at ease to ask questions.  Tell your counsellor if you do not understand something and have trust in the working relationship to be able to accept feedback and reflect on the sessions.  It is good to remember that each person is unique and what works for one, may not particularly be effective for another.  Share your thoughts and feelings with your counsellor, as there is bound to be a lot of things that you are thinking about in that first session.  It is important that you have realistic expectations for your first session as therapy is not a quick fix for any situation; it is more a process that will take time.  Therapy also requires building rapport with your counsellor and this is important for the therapeutic relationship and is one of the key tools toward resolving problems.  Having made the decision to seek professional help is the first step in making positive change in your life, gaining clarity, hope and a sense of awareness and direction, so it is important that you feel comfortable and positive about your decision.

You can contact me here to talk about counselling services for your specific requirements.