Or at least, that's how I felt during my first office visit with my current therapist.
First sessions can be overwhelming. There's paperwork to do. Insurance talk. Questions to ask your therapist. Questions your therapist will ask you. But here's a short list of things to bring to your first session--a cheat sheet, if you will:
- Insurance information
- List of questions or concerns to ask your therapist
- Medical history
- Primary care physician's information
- Checkbook or cash
Most offices will have a waiting room, with or without a receptionist. Arrive 15 minutes early for your appointment so you can fill out any paperwork the receptionist or therapist may have waiting for you. If you haven't already, confirm that the therapist takes your insurance, providing you have insurance, and make sure that you understand whether you'll be billed for your session or if you're required to pay before leaving the office.
Though tedious, this is actually the easiest part of the visit.
After what probably seems like an eon but what was, in reality, only a few minutes, the therapist will come out to greet you, shake your hand and ask you back into their office. A therapist's office is usually set up something like a study or a den--half office and half living room. There may be a couch, though you're not required to lie on it. Or maybe two comfortable chairs grouped in a sitting area. I've yet to have a therapist that separated themselves so far from me that they remained behind their desks.
At this point, feel free to bring up whatever questions you might have for your therapist, if you have any concerns you haven't already discussed over the phone before your session. Sometimes, a question such as, "Can you explain exactly what approach to therapy you take?" can act as a simple icebreaker. Otherwise, be prepared to dive right in.
Most therapy sessions last 50 minutes or so. In that first 50 minutes, your therapist is likely to ask you the following questions:
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