What should I expect at my first therapy appointment?

The first appointment for therapy is largely geared towards information gathering and getting to know each other a little bit. We will discuss what Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is, how it works, and how therapy sessions will be structured, and we will talk briefly about the issue(s) that have brought you in to see us. We will also discuss limits of confidentiality and privacy, and any questions or concerns you may have will be answered. If all seems agreeable to both parties then we will complete a small amount of paperwork to get the process started. Included in this paperwork is a consent form (of which we will both keep a copy) that indicates in writing that you have given informed consent to enter into treatment, as well as the details surrounding if you wish to stop treatment and the limits of confidentiality that we will have discussed previously. I will then conduct an interview to gather some background information (e.g., level of education, work history, relevant medical history, history of the problem(s) that brought you in for treatment, etc); this information will be used to help determine any diagnoses (if appropriate) and will be used to guide treatment.

As CBT is an active and collaborative process, we will sit at a desk during sessions which will allow us to look at materials together and move around as needed; there will be no lying down on couches like how you see in the movies. Therapy sessions last 50 minutes. Depending on how the first session proceeds, we can start working on your presenting issues right away.