
What Really Happens During a Counselling Session: A Peek Behind the Curtain
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Feeling a bit nervous about your first counselling session? Don't worry, it's completely normal! Many of us tend to keep our feelings under wraps, so the idea of opening up to a stranger can seem daunting. Let's lift the veil on what actually happens during a counselling session to help put your mind at ease.
Setting the Scene
First things first, lets set the scene. One of the benefits of online counselling is that you can dial into your appointment from the comfort of your own home. I often encourage clients to think about their space and make it as cosy as possible - you can bring a warm drink to your session, have cushions and blankets as you need. If you like nice smells, light a candle or set up your diffuser to make the room feel relaxing.
Breaking the Ice
In our first session, we won't dive straight into the deep end. We usually start with some friendly chit-chat to help you settle in. This might include:
Introducing ourselves
Explaining confidentiality
Answering any questions you may have about our sessions.
Remember, there's no rush. Take your time to get comfortable.
Exploring Your Reasons for Seeking Counselling
Once you're settled, I will gently guide the conversation towards why you've come for counselling. I might ask questions like:
"What brings you here today?"
"How have you been feeling lately?"
"Is there anything specific you'd like to focus on?"
The Heart of the Session
This is where the real work begins. No two therapy sessions are ever the same, so it's difficult to know what this may look like for you, but generally after a few sessions of getting to know each other and outlining the issue/ issues you want to work on, we'll formulate a plan together as to how we approach the matter. This may be done in quite a structured way, or if the situation is a 'live' one (i.e. something thats ongoing) we might work session by session dealing with whatever feels most important at that time.
It's a Two-Way Street
Contrary to what you might see on telly, counselling isn't just you talking while the counsellor nods silently. It's an interactive process. Most of the time we'll be in conversation and I might :
Ask clarifying questions
Offer different perspectives
Guide you towards your own realisations
My job is to help you make sense of your situation and find helpful and healthy ways of managing it. I'll regularly review how you feel we're getting on, and whether you're getting what you need from our sessions together.
What Happens Next?
Before you leave, you'll usually book your next session. Don't worry if you feel a bit emotional afterwards – it's completely normal. Many people find it helpful to plan some quiet time after their session to reflect.
Remember, You're in Control
As our work nears an ending, we'll talk about how you'd like to mark the end of the sessions. Some people choose to do a review session where we revisit the work we've done in our sessions. Others might look at how to know when they need to come back into therapy. Some people just like to say thanks and leave it at that... whatever you need our ending to look like is ok.
I hope this has been a helpful look 'behind the scenes' of what counselling looks like. To take your first step towards getting support, simply pop me over a message via the button below: