Your First Session
What to Expect from Psychotherapy
It's normal to feel nervous.
After all, talking to someone who is essentially a stranger about your most personal experiences is a significant step. I don't expect you to tell me everything straight away. Just like any new relationship, therapy involves getting to know one another over time.
Our sessions will take place via Zoom. I encourage you to find a private, comfortable space where you can speak freely and where you are unlikely to be interrupted.
During our first session, I will ask about what has brought you to therapy, what is happening in your life currently, and how you have been feeling.
I may ask about your personal history, family background, physical and mental health history, previous experiences of therapy, and any medications you may be taking.
As we talk, I will begin to develop a sense of who you are and what is concerning you.
Sometimes the verbal content of a session is not the only important information. Tone of voice, emotional responses, body language, and the feelings that arise as we talk can all provide valuable information. Paying attention to these experiences is an important part of how I work.
My overall aim is to help you develop greater self-awareness and understanding. Together we will explore your experiences, feelings, assumptions, patterns of relating, and the ways in which early experiences may continue to influence your life in the present.
In general, I work in an open-ended way.
Therapy often works best when you feel able to bring your spontaneous thoughts, feelings, reactions and experiences into the session. We may explore current difficulties, past experiences, relationship patterns, and the assumptions you hold about yourself and other people.
For people who have experienced developmental trauma or complex trauma, it can take time to approach painful experiences from the past. While there may not always be immediate relief, therapy can help you develop greater emotional regulation, understanding and resilience. Over time, the aim is to create opportunities to process difficult experiences in a safe and thoughtful way.
Before Your First Session
• If you are attending under a Mental Health Care Plan, please arrange for your GP to email or fax your referral and Mental Health Care Plan prior to your appointment.
• I will ask some questions about your family, living circumstances, work, study, personal history and current concerns.
• The first few sessions may feel more structured than later sessions, as I need to gather background information and develop an understanding of your situation.
Tips for Choosing a Therapist
• Check your therapist's qualifications and registration. Membership of a professional body such as the AASW, PACFA or AHPRA provides professional accountability and ethical oversight.
• Therapy is a relationship. If you do not feel that a therapist is a good fit for you, it is important to find someone with whom you feel comfortable working.
• Ask about their therapeutic approach and what you can expect from the process.
• Remember that therapy is not always comfortable. Growth often involves reflecting on difficult feelings, assumptions and experiences. A good therapist will support you through that process.
• Therapy takes time. Meaningful change often develops gradually through consistent work, reflection and putting what you have learnt in sessions into practice.
