Think about What You Want from your counsellor.

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What do you hope to gain from counselling? What aspects of your life would you like to change? Do you require assistance in coping with anxiety or trauma, or do you require assistance in navigating a challenging life situation? When it comes time to discuss these difficulties with the therapist, the more explicit you are about what you want and need, the better off you will be. 

 

If it helps, write everything down. Writing helps many people think more clearly about abstract matters, and the clearer you are in your mind, the easier it will be to communicate with the counsellor.

 

Examine Your Past before your first counselling session.

Making a list of the specific topics and circumstances you want to discuss is another great strategy to prepare for your first session. This could include any present issues you're dealing with and how they're affecting you, as well as any life events that have contributed to them. 

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Don't be concerned that certain items are too insignificant to add. It's crucial if it feels meaningful to you! Again, writing everything down can assist you in determining what is most important to you. It's also easy to ensure you don't forget anything important if you bring your notes to your first counselling session.

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Make a list of the questions you want to ask for the initial consultation. 

Finally, list the questions you'd like to ask. For example, you might want to enquire about our counsellor's education and training, as well as whether or not they've worked with other clients who have issues similar to yours and what types of therapeutic strategies they employ. 

 

Counselling is about you and what you want and need, and a counsellor is there to assist you in achieving your goals. They'll provide you with a lot of direction for how your future sessions should go, but it's ultimately up to you to make sure you communicate your needs.