We all know what to expect when we go to our medical doctor’s office. They will typically check our pulse and our blood pressure. Of course, they will also ask if there is something in particular that is bothering us. We usually know how to describe medical ailments. Seeking therapy can be a little less familiar- but it need not be scary! Taking that first step into a therapist’s office can be the hardest one- but it is invariably worth the effort. If we should be concerned about the health of our body, shouldn’t we take equal care of our minds? Though your therapist won’t take your pulse and blood pressure, in a way, they’ll be accomplishing a similar thing. Here’s what you can expect in the first session.

Building Rapport

One of the marked distinctions between seeing a therapist and a medical doctor is the need to build a strong rapport. Perhaps you are coming to share some very personal things that have not been shared with anyone. To do this, you need to feel comfortable talking to your therapist. They will work hard initially, and throughout your therapy sessions, to make you comfortable. Your therapist will help you realize that your concerns are not strange. Many people have the same concerns. Your therapist has developed a sophisticated skillset to help you discover and share what your concerns are.

Confidentiality & Intake Interview

In the first session, your therapist will discuss the confidential nature of therapy and the limits to confidentiality. These limits ensure your safety and the safety of those close to you. They will likely conduct an “Intake Interview,” which is a series of questions to gather relevant background information. Questions will include your current lifestyle, presenting challenges, your family history, and situations that have impacted your wellbeing.

Therapeutic Approach

CBT Psychology for Personal Development has a spectrum of highly qualified therapists, with varying degrees and specialties of service. A member of our dedicated office staff will ensure you are matched with a clinician whose expertise matches your needs.

The hallmark of therapeutic interventions that our clinic uses is, as our name suggests, CBT: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. However, we also use many other techniques based on the needs of each client. We only use evidence-based approaches to psychotherapy. This means that scientific research has shown the effectiveness of these therapeutic techniques. While some clients seek therapy as an addition to medical treatments of prescribed medications, others find equally effective help for a number of ailments, solely relying on talk therapy. Your therapist will help you learn the power of your own mind to affect change to your state of being.

Developing Therapy Goals

In the first session, the clinician asks what your goals in therapy are. Together with your therapist, you will develop a treatment plan that will assess a starting point, and a desired goal. While it is difficult to generalize treatment plans to all cases, many clients reach their goals in therapy in as little as 10-12 sessions while others get so much value from their sessions that they choose to continue benefiting from this unique and special relationship with their therapist.

Your relationship with your therapist is of utmost importance in the therapeutic process. Because of this, they will likely request feedback from you many times in the process, not just during the first session. This will ensure that you are comfortable with the treatment, and on the same track with the path that is taken in therapy. At CBT Psychology for Personal Development, we are committed to meeting your goals so you can live a meaningful life that makes you feel comfortable, at peace with yourself and empowered. We congratulate you on taking that important first step towards being the best person that you can be, and we are honoured to work with you towards reaching that goal!

Written by Yuval Kernerman; edited by Dr. Silvina Galperin