First Therapy Session: What to expect

Keep in mind that your first session with the therapist will be different from future visits. The initial visit is a space for you and your therapist to get familiar with each other, to inform decisions on how to proceed. The first session will most likely include paperwork and background and demographic questions. Future visits will be more therapeutic in nature, focusing less on administrative tasks (i.e. insurance, etc). For example, in your second session, you may explore a specific symptom, challenge, or past experience you mentioned in the first session.

During the first session, your therapist may ask you:

- What symptoms are you currently experiencing?

- What brings you into therapy?

- What would you like to change about your life?

- Some questions about your history, including your childhood, education, relationships (family, - romantic, friends), your current living situation, and your career

You and your therapist should also come to an agreement about the length of your treatment, schedule the next session, methods of communication, and information regarding patient confidentiality.

Patient Confidentiality

Therapists are required to keep information discussed during therapy strictly private, between clinician and patient. The American Psychological Association's "Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct," confidential information explains the few instances where a therapist can breach client confidentiality, but only with the permission of the individual or as permitted by the law.

While the specifics of a legal duty to warn vary by state, in most cases, a therapist is required to breach confidentiality if a client poses an imminent threat to themselves, the therapist, or a third party. The information must be divulged to a person capable of taking action to reduce the threat.