I understand that attending your first therapy session (often called an intake session) can feel intimidating. You may be wondering what to expect, what you’ll be asked, or whether you’ll know what to say. My hope is that by walking you through what a first session with me looks like, you’ll feel a little more prepared and at ease.
Research has shown that the relationship you have with your therapist is one of the strongest predictors of success in therapy (Opland & Torrico, 2024). Due to this, it is important to me that you feel seen, heard, and respected during our time together.
Your intake session is also a great opportunity for us to determine if we are a good fit. I want you to feel comfortable asking questions and deciding whether working together feels right!
Once we get settled into the office space, we will spend time talking about what brings you to therapy. You can choose to share as much or as little as you feel comfortable with. I may ask some follow up questions to better understand your concerns, but there is no pressure to discuss everything during the first session.
This is a time where you can talk about whatever feels important for you. Some common topics that people bring include:
- Anxiety and how it is affecting their daily life
- Past experiences of trauma
- Relationships
- Life Transitions
- Work or Academic Stress
- Depression or feeling stuck
After talking about what brings you to therapy, we may spend some time discussing your background. This helps me better understand your experiences and the different parts of your life so we can create a treatment plan. The following are some additional topics we may discuss:
- Close relationships
- Your daily life
- Hobbies and interests
- Work or school
- Responsibilities and sources of support
After learning more about your experiences, we’ll also talk about what you hope to gain from therapy. One question I often ask is:
“If in 3 months, therapy had been effective, what would be different for you?”.
There is no right or wrong answer to this question. I am hoping to learn about what changes you are really wanting to see. Your answer will help us create goals that are meaningful for you.
At the end of the session, we will talk about what is next. There are a few different possibilities:
- You would like to schedule another session. Wonderful! We will find a time to meet and continuing working towards your goals.
- You aren’t sure if you would like to continue yet. No problem! You can take the time you need and let me know whenever you are ready.
- You decide I’m not the right fit. That is totally okay. Finding the right therapist is important, and if it would be helpful, I can provide referrals to other therapists who may better meet your needs!
Starting therapy can feel like a big step, and it’s completely normal to have questions or feel uncertain about the process. My hope is that from the moment you walk into your first session, you’ll feel welcomed, respected, and supported as we work toward the goals that matter most to you.
If you’re looking for therapy in the Toledo or Sylvania, Ohio area and would like to learn more, I invite you to contact me. Whether you have questions about the process or would like to schedule an initial session, I am happy to help.
Learn More:
Opland C, Torrico TJ. Psychotherapy and Therapeutic Relationship. [Updated 2024 Oct 6]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK608012/
Tabatha Walford, LPC - Therapist in Sylvania, OH 