Main thing is to just show up

Going to counselling for the first time can feel daunting, like there may be something expected of you. There isn't, other than just showing up.

Here is the thing though, you do not need to arrive knowing what you want to say. Most people do not. There is no pressure to tell your whole story at once.

Usually we begin with whatever stuckness felt urgent enough to bring you here, what it is that feels painful or confusing.

In conversation we will soon see whether there is a good fit between you and I. This part is important.

In early sessions, we may explore:

• What has been going on in your life recently.
• What you have been carrying for perhaps too long.
• Patterns in relationships, emotions, or behaviour that feel like stuck records.
• What you are hoping might be different.

You can begin to make sense of your internal world, and begin to notice how this translates to your world outside. Sometimes this involves practical strategies; other times it involves deeper exploration of relationships or past experiences.