What actually happens in a first counselling session

Lots of people tell me the hardest part of counselling was getting through the door. Not knowing what will happen can make the first session feel bigger than it is, so here’s an honest picture.

We start by getting to know each other

There’s no test and nothing you need to prepare. I’ll ask a little about what brings you here and what you’d like to be different. You can share as much or as little as feels right.

We talk about how it works

I’ll explain confidentiality, how often we might meet and what happens if you need to cancel. It’s a chance to ask anything that’s on your mind.

You decide what happens next

At the end, we’ll check in on how it felt. Some people book a regular time straight away; others like to take a few days. Either is completely fine.