How to prepare for your first therapy session

Many first-time patients try to prepare for therapy like an exam. They write long histories, apologise for being confusing, or worry they will waste the clinician's time. A good first session does not require performance.

The useful preparation is practical: main concern, timeline, sleep, appetite, work or study impact, prior treatment, medication, substance use, safety concerns and what you hope changes first. The clinician will help organise the rest.

Write three notes: what hurts most right now, when it began or worsened, and what you have already tried. Take any relevant screener before the session if you can. Keep water nearby for online sessions. Choose privacy over perfect presentation.

If there is any self-harm risk, severe insomnia, psychosis, mania or substance withdrawal, state it early in the session. Clinicians can help best when safety information is not saved for the end.