What to Expect From Your Therapy Sessions

“Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary.” -Fred Rogers

Contrary to popular beliefs, you do not have to be the brink of meltdown to seek therapy. Life is difficult enough and we shouldn’t expect that we have to go through it all on our own. You have just booked your first appointment for therapy session but you are not really sure how it works or what you want to gain through it. You are not sure if you even need therapy or will this solve the problem you are facing. 


In this article I'll try to address these concerns and provide you a brief introduction about what really happen in therapy. 
  • Your first meeting will be different from your future visits. The thought of opening up to a stranger can be intimidating. Your first session would primarily be about establishing a rapport. It is important that you feel comfortable and safe in therapy. 
  • At the beginning of a session therapist will invite you to share what's been going on in your life and what is the problem you are facing. Therapy provides a safe space for you to open up about your thought and feelings.  
  • In the first few session therapist may seek information on various aspects like:
    • What brought you to therapy
    • What specific issues/problems you want to focus on
    • Personal history and current situation
    • Detailed history about different aspect of life (depending on problem presented)
    • How long have you been experiencing the problem
    • What are your expectation from therapy
  • Not all therapy looks same, it will depend on the kind of issues you want to explore and therapy approach of therapist. 

  • Therapist listens to you and is completely non-judgmental and the information shared is strictly confidential. 
  • You can discuss confidentiality clauses with your therapist before proceeding to therapy.

  • Many people believe when you to therapy you have to talk about your childhood. It is not true. What you talk about in therapy will depend on the problem you are facing and the goal you want to achieve through it.
  • You and your therapist should also come to an agreement about the length of your treatment which will again depend on your issue and therapy goals.

  • You are open to ask questions about therapy process and seek clarity if you are not able understand what therapist says. 
  • Therapy is not a quick fix for your problem, rather it is a process.
  • Therapists listen to your story without any judgment or bias, they might offer you recommendations but they do not tell you what to do. You have complete control of your healing process which helps you learn more about yourself. 
  • Therapy empowers you to take action on your own.
Therapy helps you untangle your thoughts and identify healthy coping skills and build resilience and also improve one's outlook in life. You don't have to go through your problems alone it's okay to ask for help. 

"Be confused, it’s where you begin to learn new things. Be broken, it’s where you begin to heal. Be frustrated, it’s where you start to make more authentic decisions. Be sad, because if we are brave enough we can hear our heart’s wisdom through it. Be whatever you are right now. No more hiding. You are worthy, always". -S.C. Lourie

Sanjina Bose

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