urm...counsellor...
 

ok, so heres the deal.
after suffering with self-harm/depression etc for 5 years I've finally got the courage with the help of a friend and one of my teachers to go to the doctors. well i went and i've now got a counselling appointment for next thursday. I'm terrified!
can anyone tell me what to expect or anything about the first session.
i know i need to go and i'm kind of relieved that i'm finally going to get help,
i also know it'll take a long time but i'm so scared about this first session:crazy:
anyone advise me at all??
thanks in advance

hey i just wana say well done first of all for taking this step. Thats a really brave and positive first step.
Well my first session lasted an hour. Basically we talked about my support system, about my family, who i get on with;who i dont. My friends, who my best friend is, if i have a bf etc. The first session wasnt too heavy at all, it was very relaxed and seemed a bit pointless really but it has 2 b done. The first session is basically just about you and the counsellor getting to know each other, and building that trust up. There is nothing to worry about though at all, its fine I promise! I was really nervous on my first session.
Hope it all goes well, good luck and let us know how it went !
X X X

Hey,
A big well done to you!! You have been so brave, so yays for you :)
As Nici-x said, it is basicly just a get to know you session.
My first session was just about me, family, friends, work. And just some basic questions about sleeping patterns, eating habits, how I feel. There was a few heavy questions about my self harm, depression and things that have happened before. But you don't need to go into any depth about them. And can even say you are not comfortable talking about that yet.
Try to be as honest as possible, and stick with it, it is hard at first, but it helps so much.
Hope it goes well for you - keep us updated!
Take Care,
Jen xx

thanks guys =)
made me feel slightly better.
still rather scared. i'm gonna tell my teacher tomorrow about it and she can usually calm me down and she's been through all this too.
i guess i'll just have to go and be honest with them =/
i'll keep you updated if you guys are interested
love and *hugs*
kt xxxxx

Hey, I remember my first session I took a friend along. My councillor didn't expect me to say much, just wanted to get to know me a bit, my family life, like who I lived with, when parents split, friends, hobbies I had, and then stuff about self harm, and how often I felt low etc....I then could decide if I wanted another appointment or not (it was a voluntry service). He explained what I should expect etc. First session is more about getting to know one another, not getting deep into problems...well for me it wasn't.

Hope it goes well!

All therapists are a bit different, since there are different type of therapy and people are trained in different ways, so the way sessions go can vary. However, in my experience, the first session went something like this:

- The receptionist has you fill out some paper work with basic personal information; name, date of birth, all that fin stuff, as well as a very basic summary of why you're there. I just jotted down "depression and self-harm" for mine. They'll also give you some info about confidentiality.

- The counselor will introduce themselves, do a bit of a "get to know each other" type thing. They'll also explain the confidentiality agreement to you.

- They'll ask why you're there. You don't have to say too much right away if you're not ready - it varies depending on the client. Sometimes, the client says very little for the first session, and sometimes the counselor can barely get out "Hi, my name is . . ." before the client is away to the races and telling them everything.

- They'll probably also ask you where you'd like to end up and what your ultimate goals are with the counseling process. You don't have to know necessarily, but if you have some idea, they can help you work out some goals.

That was pretty much my first session. One thing I will say is that talking is necessary. I was very quiet for a lot of my sessions, and I didn't get as much out of it as I could have. It can be difficult, but talking openly and honestly is so important. Also, you should be aware that sometimes, a session can leave you feeling a bit worse than when you went in. This is normal, but don't be afraid to bring it up with your counselor, especially if it happens a lot.

Lastly, good for you for seeking help. It's a difficult, often scary thing to do, and I think you should be really proud of yourself. Good luck and take care!

First session is always hard but they don't expect you to reveal anything heavy. Most counsellors allow you to take someone with you on the first session.

I hope it goes well. And if you don't feel comfy with the person you see, you don't have to go again. Face it one step at a time

:) thanks for the replies guys, I'm feeling a bit better about it now.
xxxx