What to know before the first visit:

• ·Write out Ideas: Think through the reasons why you are seeking therapy and how a counselor might help you. Write down your ideas and bring them to the first session.

• Ask Questions: When you are unsure of the process or what will happen next, please ask! The more you are able to understand the counseling process and what happens in counseling, the more comfortable you will feel and the better off you will be in reaching your goals.

• Be Open: Even though we wish our counselor to be a mind reader, you will need to be open and honest with them. This will help them formulate an understanding of who you are and complete a mental health assessment. They understand that it can be uncomfortable and painful to share the deepest parts of yourself with a complete stranger. The counselor will do their best to put you at ease and provide empathy through the process.

• Understand the Process: Counseling does not provide a quick fix your problem but is instead a process to be worked at overtime. The process isn’t simple and can also be risky because the information you share may be painful. Despite these challenges, counseling does provide a number of potential benefits, like healing and growth.