A Therapy Guide for New Clients: What to Expect at Your First Therapy Session

Starting therapy for the first time can bring up a lot of emotions. Whether you’re looking for an anxiety therapist near you, exploring trauma therapists in WI, or just curious about what to expect at your first therapy session, it’s completely normal to feel nervous.

Written By: Savannah Buttermore, LPC-IT

 

 

What Happens During Your First Therapy Session at HEART Counseling?

At HEART Counseling, we make sure your first therapy session feels welcoming, supportive, and guided by your comfort level.

A first-time therapy session with a new provider can be anxiety-provoking. Even just thinking about having to explain your life story to someone new can is very overwhelming.

And this feeling is extremely valid! It is intimidating to open up about challenging experiences in your life, especially to someone you have just met.

The good news is that your first session is primarily led by what you feel comfortable sharing.

A good therapist will match your pace and review intake questions at a level that feels authentic to you and catered to your comfort level that day. There is no expectation that you have to tell your entire story during your first appointment.

The right fit with a therapist often feels like leaving your first appointment knowing you were able to show up authentically as yourself. Building trust takes time, and your therapist understands that.

For any feelings of anxiety that are surfacing about your first appointment, know that this is very normal, and we’re here to help! You can even email us before and ask for us to meet you in our parking lot. We are happy to support you in any way that makes the experience better for you.

To make the experience feel a little more familiar, we’ve included photos of our office and outlined some of the things that you can expect to happen during your first session.

 

 

 

Finding Our Office in Madison, WI

Our office is located at 7633 Ganser Way, Suite 200, Madison, WI 53719, on Madison’s west side, just off Mineral Point Road near Junction Road.

 

When You Arrive at HEART Counseling

When you arrive, you’ll find free parking available around both sides of the building’s parking lot.

From there, head in through any door, and make your way to suite 200 on the second floor. You can use the elevator, or take the stairs. Our office lies on the left side of the 2nd floor of the building.

We recommend arriving about 5–10 minutes before your appointment. This will give you plenty of time to park, settle in, and relax before your session.

If you have any trouble finding the office on the day of your appointment,  call your therapist or email them. As soon as we are out of our preceding session, we’ll be happy to help guide you!

 

 

Please note: If your clinician is Sunshine Stephens, Amy Racki, or Julie Jensen, you will be in our new space at 8517 Excelsior Drive, Suite 107. The rest of us will join them after we move in September! For information about parking, the move, and a map with directions to our new building and Sunshine Stephens, Amy Racki, or Julie Jensen’s current space, see our other blog post by clicking the link below!

HEART Counseling is Moving | Madison, WI

Then you’re welcome to settle in and make yourself comfortable. Feel free to grab tea, coffee, water, and a snack, and take a seat in our waiting room before your appointment begins.

 

 

Your therapist will come find you in the waiting room once it’s time for your appointment – just like the doctor’s office, but more friendly! Appointments typically last ~ 55 minutes.

What You’ll Talk About During Your First Session

Your therapist will begin by reviewing informed consent, including your rights as a client and the limits of confidentiality. This is also a great opportunity to ask your therapist ask any questions you may have, or let them know if you have any preferences that would make you feel more safe or comfortable during your appointment.

Worried about other people hearing?

Don’t worry – we can turn up the sound machines!

Light too bright?

We are happy to shut the blinds or dim the lamps.

We are happy to make any accommodations – just tell us what you prefer!

From there, your therapist will get to know you and what brought you to therapy. Together, you’ll review the intake paperwork you completed before your appointment.

Topics that may come up include:

• What is bringing you into therapy
• Current concerns or symptoms
• Interpersonal relationships
• Medical history
• Educational or employment history
• Hobbies and interests
• Mental health history
• Trauma history, if and when you feel comfortable discussing it

Remember, you are always in control of what you choose to share.

Elise Reichle, SWTC & MSW Graduate Intern, checks in with her clients with trauma history if the topic is too tender to feel comfortable to discuss at the moment. If yes, she is always happy to move on and come back to trauma whenever her clients are ready to, and want to, share.

 

 

Finding the Right Fit

Your first therapy session is also an opportunity to get acquainted with your therapist and determine whether you feel like a good fit together. A therapist that is a “right fit” likely will match your tone and energy level, have a warm, welcoming, and safe presence, and make the experience easier than you expected.

Struggling to find a therapist for you insurance, or trying to figure out what kind of therapist would be best for you? Check our our blog post with the link below to learn more!

Finding the Right Therapist

Then, you’ll begin discussing your goals and what you hope to gain from therapy with your therapist.

Our therapists at HEART Counseling welcome questions about the approaches they use, the interventions they incorporate, and the populations they work with most often.

Feel free to ask what therapy typically looks like in their office or what future sessions may involve, if they don’t already share this information with you.

For example, Elise Reichle, SWTC & Graduate MSW Intern, says she often discusses all of these topics with clients during the consult call, or shares at the start of the intake appointment. She also asks clients if they prefer to set the “agenda” for sessions, or if they prefer to have a therapist that structures sessions  for them, as she enjoys both approaches.

 

 

Therapy Is a Process

Therapy, however nerve-racking it can be, is a process that can truly help us unlearn harmful narratives about ourselves, work through difficult seasons of life and the emotions that come with them, and have someone witness our journey with compassion.

In a society that often encourages us to place other people’s emotions before our own, let therapy be a space where you get to feel supported, empowered, and, most importantly, heard.

Taking the first step into the therapy office is often one of the hardest parts, but you don’t have to do it alone. We’re here to meet you at the door (or even in the parking lot!).

 

 

About the Author: Savannah Buttermore, LPC-IT is a therapist at HEART Counseling in Madison, Wisconsin. She works with teens, young adults, and adults navigating anxiety, trauma, depression, life transitions, and school or relationship challenges. Savannah values creating a safe, nonjudgmental environment where clients feel genuinely seen, heard, and supported while building meaningful change together.

 

Still looking for more information about what to expect during your first therapy session? Here are some additional resources we recommend:

• Going to Therapy for the First Time? Here’s What to Expect | ACP

• What to Expect at Your First Therapy Session | Stanford Couples Counseling