What to Expect from Your First CBT Session (Copy)

Your first CBT session is an opportunity to meet your therapist and begin talking about what has brought you to therapy. You will discuss the difficulties you are experiencing and how they may be affecting different areas of your life, for example at work, home, social and relationships.

Your therapist will work with you to understand your current difficulties and what you would like to achieve from therapy. Together, you can begin to identify clear goals for the end of therapy and explore how CBT may be able to help.

During the session, your therapist will ask about your thoughts, feelings, behaviours and experiences. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about how CBT works. The first session is about beginning to build a shared understanding of your needs and deciding on the next steps together.

Your therapist will also introduce you to the CBT approach and explain how thoughts, feelings and behaviours can influence one another. This can help you begin to recognise patterns that may be contributing to the difficulties you are experiencing.

CBT is a collaborative form of therapy, which means you and your therapist will work together throughout the process. Your sessions will be shaped around your individual needs, circumstances and end of treatment goals.

You do not need to prepare all the answers before your first appointment. Therapy is a process, and understanding often develops over time. Your therapist will support you in exploring your experiences at a manageable pace while helping you develop practical strategies that can support meaningful change whilst in therapy and for the rest of your life.