Starting therapy can feel a bit like a blind date where you’re expected to share your deepest secrets—it’s completely normal to feel a mix of relief and nerves.

While every therapist has their own style, the first few sessions (often called the intake phase) usually follow a predictable pattern designed to build a foundation for your work together.Mental Health: Discussing emotions, thoughts, and behaviors related to anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, or other mental health concerns.

1. The Logistics (Session 1)

Before the "deep work" begins, there is some necessary housekeeping. You’ll likely spend the first 15–20 minutes covering:

• Informed Consent: Reviewing privacy laws (HIPAA), confidentiality limits, and cancellation policies.

• Assessments: You might be asked to fill out brief questionnaires about your mood, sleep, and appetite to establish a baseline.

  At Mountain River Counseling and consulting, we offer a free consultation meeting to allow our clients to get to know us and ask any questions. Reach out to us today to schedule your free consult.

2. The "Biopsychosocial" Interview

In the first one or two sessions, the counselor acts like an explorer. They need to understand the "landscape" of your life. Expect questions about:

• The "Presenting Problem": What brought you in today? Why now?

• Personal History: Your childhood, family dynamics, and significant life events.

• Current Lifestyle: Your support system, work environment, and physical health.

• Safety: Therapists will routinely ask if you have thoughts of harming yourself or others to ensure you have the right level of care.

  What do you want us to know as we start this journey of fostering emotional and psychological wellness? We are here for you.

3. Developing a Treatment Plan

By session two or three, you and your counselor will collaborate on goals. This turns "I just want to feel better" into actionable targets, such as:

• "I want to reduce the frequency of my panic attacks."

• "I want to establish better boundaries with my parents."

• "I want to process the grief of my recent breakup."

  We believe in being collaborative with our clients. We want to know what we can do to best help them meet their goals. Some clients are here for support, and that works too!

4. Relationship Building (The "Fit")

The most important factor in successful therapy is the therapeutic alliance. During these early stages, you are essentially "interviewing" the therapist too. You should be looking for:

• Safety: Do you feel judged or heard?

• Cultural Competence: Do they respect your identity and background?

• Expertise: Do they seem confident in handling your specific concerns?

A Quick Tip: It’s okay if you don't feel a "spark" immediately, but if you still feel uncomfortable or misunderstood after four sessions, it’s perfectly acceptable (and encouraged) to look for a different provider. A good therapist won't take it personally!

What to expect internally

• The "Vulnerability Hangover": You might feel emotionally drained or "raw" after the first few sessions. This is normal as you're surfacing topics you may have suppressed.

• The "It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better" Phase: Discussing hard things can temporarily increase anxiety before the healing starts. Please know we are here with you even when it is hard to talk about what happened?

Are you ready to get started? Contact us here or feel free to schedule your complimentary consult here.