How to Prepare for Your First Counseling or Coaching Session with Infinit Care
You know how to prepare to see a doctor for a physical illness, but do you know how to prepare for your counseling/coaching session?
Here are some suggestions to help you prepare for your first counseling/coaching session.
Write a few notes. When you meet your counselor/coach for the first time, you might get confused or forget important pieces of information. Writing a few notes can help you. These might include answers to the following questions: What has been happening in your life that led you to go to counseling/coaching? How long has this been going on? What have you done to try to feel better?
Set goals. Consider how your mental health concerns affect areas of your life. Try to answer the question: What do you hope to accomplish in counseling/coaching?
Ask questions. It is common for people to have some questions in mind about mental health and the factors affecting it. Do not be afraid to ask questions. In fact, doing so helps lessen nerves and better prepares you for what’s soon to come. You can ask your counselor/coach: What can I expect during our counseling/coaching session? What’s your counseling/coaching style?
Your counselor/coach is there to help you. Try to keep your mind open and remind yourself that the counselor/coach is not there to expose your weaknesses, your mistakes, or to make you feel more anxious. Once you start sharing these to your counselor/coach, your initial fears and worries will start to decrease.
Keep in mind that everything is confidential. Find comfort in the fact that counselors/coaches are bound by strict confidentiality regulations. They cannot release any information about you without your written permission, except when the counselor/coach believes that you might harm yourself or others.
Give yourself a break. It is natural to feel more intense emotions after counseling/coaching. It is recommended that you take extra time off before and after the counseling/coaching session so you can make room for introspection.
When you start to prepare for your first counseling/coaching session, consider reaching out to Infinit Care. Our counselors and coaches are experts in their field and they will gladly help you.
