This mainly refers to the sympathy, or so-called “therapeutic chemistry” that develops between the two, so from the client's side, we are looking for the feeling of “okay, I am in the right place,” and from the psychologist's side, that feeling of “okay, I will be able to help.”

The further goal of the first session is for the psychologist to inform the client about the parameters of the counseling process, as a result of which they can form an agreement with each other. What is psychological counseling itself? What can the client expect from it? In what theoretical and practical framework does the professional work? Does this framework relate to the client's problem? What are the obligations of the psychologist, and what about the client's? How does payment, billing, cancellation, and rescheduling work? Through which platform will they communicate if needed between sessions? Will they address each other informally or formally?

The foundations of every successful cooperation must be laid, and it is no different in psychological counseling – and this is how the therapeutic agreement is made. Many make this agreement verbally, but in certain practices, you can also encounter an agreement in physical form. This keeps both of you safe, as both you and your psychologist have certain obligations to fulfill to work together within a proper counseling relationship framework. It is very important that you are aware of where and whom you've arrived at to decide whether you feel you are in the right place based on your feelings, and based on concrete facts, if your chosen psychologist's personality and work style suit you and your problem.

This session usually also touches on the client’s background, such as what therapeutic history they have, what supportive activities they have previously used, what the outcomes of those were, and why they have now decided to seek help, etc. By sharing this, you help your psychologist to get an understanding of you, which allows them to decide if they can and want to work with you, and if there are any ethical or personal barriers to starting your joint work.

Remember, you have about 50 minutes for everything, so do not expect to fully convey your problem in this first session, and receive answers or solutions. Be patient, curious about the situation, approach your psychologist with an open mind, and always pay attention to whether you feel the initial sprout of trust. If so, you will have endless time afterwards to explore your problem and situation, believe me!