13/10/2026
Having your first Counselling or Psychotherapy Session?
Here are the number of possible questions you might be asked when you come to see a therapist:
FIRST SESSION QUESTIONS
o Whose idea was it for you to be here today?
o What brings you here today?
o What brings you to seek therapy?
o Have you been in therapy before?
o What are your best hopes for our talk today?
o What scares you about being here?
o What would you like to be different when you walk out of here today or when we
finish our work together?
o How would you know things are getting better as a result of working together?
o Who is with you in this room today (figuratively speaking)?
o What would this person hope would be different for you as a result of us working
together?
o How would you like your life to have changed at the end of our sessions?
o If I asked the person in your life who knows you best what do you think they would
wish for you?
o If you woke up tomorrow and your wishes had become a reality, what would you first
notice? How would your life be different?
o How would you know our work together has been successful?
o What are your expectations from the therapy sessions?
o How do you imagine your ideal self?
o If you were to get things off your chest, what difference are you hoping that that
would make to you? (Wait for client to respond) And if you were feeling (insert what
client said) what are you hoping that would lead to?
o How have you been coping with the problem which brought you to therapy?
o What are your symptoms, if any?
o Have you ever tried any self-help strategies to reduce your symptoms?
o What is the impact of the problems you’re currently facing?
o Have you noticed an impact on your body or physical health? Have you spoken to
your physician / doctor about this?
o What is your understanding and expectation of therapy?
o What is the most important thing to know about you / your situation right now?
