Some of you may be wondering what to expect during your first session with a client. In this article, I am going to share my personal knowledge and experience with you on this topic. There are two main goals for the first session–to establish a therapeutic relationship and to gather information.

The most important thing to remember during the first session is, simply put, to be with the client. What I mean by this is that you must focus on what the client is saying at all times. Do not try to think of what to say next. You actually don’t have to. If you are with the client, this will come naturally. It may help to tell yourself you are going to have a conversation with the client. During the first session, you will employ everything you learned in your counseling skills course. Using these skills will not only…