What to Expect from Your First Therapy Session

The first therapy session is usually very simple — the goal is to understand what brings you to therapy. You can talk about what's most on your mind and take it from there. Your therapist may ask some open-ended questions to understand your concerns at length. They may also ask about your family, relationships, work, and health, to have a better context of your life.

Ideally, you leave the session feeling some sense of connection with your therapist, and that your concerns have been somewhat understood. It is important not to have big expectations about breakthroughs or insight — it takes time to build a good therapeutic relationship, and all aspects of your concerns are best understood at an intentional, gradual pace that works right for you.