The internet can create misleading expectations. Concerns will be unpacked over time, when you are ready. This is especially the case if your issue has been with you for some time. As such, counselling will not give you a quick fix. It may not seem possible at first, but the solution will come from within you, with the support and guidance of your counsellor. A counsellor will not tell you what to do. People new to counselling often hope for quick answers or advice. Obtaining support when you need it is a strength, not a weakness. Never be afraid to go back to see a counsellor. It is not unheard of for a client to see a therapist more than once a week, especially early on. Some clients like to have a session once a week, whereas others can go months without and then pop back for a session (perhaps because a new issue has arisen which they would like help with). Counsellors may recommend a time, but it is always the client’s choice. So how often should you see a counsellor? Will it surprise you if I were to say, it varies. Time and effort are needed whether it is a weight change you are after or a behavioural or emotional change. It’s a bit like starting an exercise program to lose weight then giving up after two days as it didn’t work. To expect change during the initial session is expecting a lot from yourself. This will create greater feelings of trust and will allow the client to open up more. Of course, this also means the client has a good opportunity to get to know the counsellor and the process. Online counsellors, like any other counsellor, appreciate the time to get to know their client. Some people require just three or four sessions, whereas others can see a counsellor for years. In fact the amount of sessions needed will vary from individual to individual. This is the case whether you go with face to face or online counselling. How many sessions are needed?Īlthough progress can be achieved in the first session, generally people need more than one session to help bring about change. Such activities will allow you to get more out of the session and can be highly beneficial. They can include: written work, time spent reflecting on a particular issue, reading books or articles, or carrying out behavioural tasks.

Some therapists may want to establish ground rules or gather pertinent details, others prefer to quickly get started and let you take the lead.ĭepending on the type of therapist you see, you may be given homework, which can be discussed in a following session. As such, there will be variations on how a counsellor begins a session.

So what you have read about or been told may differ when it comes to seeing your particular counsellor. This is also the case with online counselling, where it is possible that counsellor and client cannot see one another.Įach counsellor is different and a multitude of approaches are taken. It is not unreasonable to recognise that it takes time to build trust. In fact it can take a few sessions for the client to feel settled and at ease enough to discuss concerns and worries they may never have spoken about before. The first session is an opportunity for the counsellor and client to get to know each other and for the client to get comfortable. Well, I think unfamiliarity breeds anxiety, so here’s what to expect from your first session, how long you should commit to therapy, and what counselling will not give you. If you have never had counselling before, you may be unfamiliar with how counselling works.

An introduction to the counselling process

First therapy session with a client