What to Expect from Your First Christian Counseling Session
People fear the unknown. It builds uncertainty and anxiety. Whether you’re swimming in a lake where you can’t see the bottom, or you’re walking into a room full of people you’ve never met, fear of the unknown can arise.
The same is true for many going to counseling for the first time.
It’s natural. You become anxious, even worried about what will happen. Will it be like what you see in movies and TV shows? Are you going to be crying and spilling, your deepest, darkest secrets?
Probably not.
The truth is, your first counseling session is nothing to be worried about. The specifics can play out a little differently for everyone. Every counselor has their own methods. Additionally, you have your own unique way of communicating and processing information.
And of course, it depends what you’re going to the counselor for, and whether it’s just you or not.
If it’s just you, though, it tends to be a straightforward event.
You talk about what you want to talk about.
If you’re visiting a counselor, there’s a reason. Major or minor, there is some topic or situation to be addressed. However, you don’t have to jump straight into it if you don’t want to.
What you should know about counseling, especially the first visit, is that you control the conversation. Yes, the counselor will ask questions. They will encourage you to share and open up, but what you say is up to you. The topics discussed are whatever you want to talk about.
The counselor will want to know about you.
While you can talk about whatever you want to, the counselor does ultimately want to know about you, your life, your struggles, and your viewpoint. You may not get into all of this during your first session, but it’s good to keep in mind.
You’ll be expected to talk.
Counseling isn’t about some paid professional telling you what to do for 30 minutes to an hour. It’s about you opening up and sharing what’s going on in your world. It’s about acknowledging struggles and problems you face and how you can overcome those.
The counselor is there as a guide to provide insight, experience, spiritual wisdom, and an outside perspective.
For them to do that, you will have to talk. So be ready.
How can you make sure you’re ready?
Think about what you want to discuss.
Like we said before, you control the conversation. So think about it beforehand. Come up with topics you want to talk about. You can even think of topics you don’t want to discuss. By preparing yourself internally, you can help the session go smoothly.
Be honest.
You don’t have to share your deepest, darkest secrets. Especially in your first session. But you should avoid lying or misinforming. This defeats the purpose of counseling and can halt progress completely.
Just speak the truth. If you reach a point where you’re not ready to share something, say so. It’s okay to say that you don’t want to answer a question or give a certain detail at the moment.
Relax.
This is often easier said than done, but don’t make this a bigger deal than it is. You’re going to go into a comfortable room to sit down and talk. That’s it. A counseling session should be one of the safest environments you find yourself in.
Remember that.
Finding the right Christian counselor.
The best way to ensure a relaxed, positive counseling experience is to find a counselor that’s right for you. As a Christian seeking counsel, you need someone who is not only licensed and experienced, but has a solid foundation of faith.
This isn’t always easy to figure out beforehand. That’s why we built Torrch. Torrch allows you to seek out Christian counselors in your area based on what you need and where you live.
Through Torrch, you can connect with counselors directly even before your first session.
Use Torrch today and take the anxiety out of your first counseling session.