What to Expect During Your First Therapy Session | Kati Morton

Seeing a Therapist for the first time can be (but shouldn't be) stressful. Some of the questions you might be wondering about are: What do you do at your first therapy session? What questions does a therapist ask? What should I not tell my therapist? Is it okay to cry in therapy? How much should you tell your therapist? What should you tell your first visit to a therapist? How should a therapy session go? Can therapists tell our parents anything?

I'm Kati Morton, a licensed therapist making Mental Health videos!
#katimorton #therapist #therapy

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[cetvideos]

My first appointment is next week. I’m very nervous! This helped me relax a little knowing what to expect!

[kitfoxworth]

Not gonna lie, never been as freaked out by the start of a YouTube video than by this one in which your opening words were literally hi followed by my name.

[parapandawheelie]

as a person who is waiting for his therapy sessions, this really helps me know what to expect. :)

[duck]

This is a great video. But one thing I will say to all of you out there waiting to start your first session is that while this is accurate, the first session or two often feel majorly crap. This is because you're sitting in a small room, eye to eye with a complete stranger being super vulnerable. Just remember that it's normal to feel uncomfortable about this! If you can get through the awkward stage and develop a really great therapeutic relationship with your therapist then the sessions can become an amazing source of comfort and growth. So many people quit in the early stages because those first few appointments can be so shit. Try and stick with it though. The hard yards are worth it and so are you!

[huddlespith]

Can we just appreciate how good the acting as the patient is! The whole fidgeting, posture, eye contact is so spot on and comforting to see

[hernan]

I'm willing to take therapy but I'm scared I might get a bad impression of my therapist on my first appointment, which makes me feel insecure and not sure if I should do it. This video really helped me out and cleared up my doubts. Thanks.

[anner]

Could you do a video like that about how you would react if a client got really upset...? Crying/dissociating/ whatever... judgement and fear about that popped up in the Podcast a lot....

[anitaa.]

This looked nothing like my first therapy session, I told my psychologist about everything that was bothering me and about my past, to the point she ended up almost crying. I know transference is not good at all, but at least feeling like someone payed attention was good enough... then, again, covid happened and the little process I made last year went downhill... hopefully I will come back this year.

[MrNioMoon]

My first therapist called me a "self-absorbed, attention whore." I kid you not. I wrote it down in my journal. During another session, she told me a random story about how she had to call the cops on her Chaldean (middle eastern ethnicity) neighbors b/c they couldn't stop being loud with curse words in front of her son after she told them to stop, wasting my time during the session (when I felt like I needed more, to begin with!). And, btw, I'm Chaldean.

I will admit, I wasn't the best patient. I went in thinking I was going to be "buddy-buddy" with my therapist because I always was towards my public school counselors growing up, but she was quick to let me know that she wasn't there to be my friend! From a vulnerable and naïve position, you were to think she could've taken a more lighthearted and less judgmental approach? I noticed she worked with younger kids too, but did she speak to them in that manner? Most likely not, I hope not, but it's just not fair (and maybe a little bit ageist too?!). Having a couple of no-call no-shows didn't help my case as well, but that shouldn't be an excuse to behave unprofessionally (when there's a deeper meaning to why I didn't call in—anxiety). During the same session, she then decided to list off a bunch of diagnoses that I didn't understand. When I asked her what they were, she told me to do my own research.

“It’s probably best you see another therapist, " she concluded. When I was walking out, she lastly said to me, "We'll keep in touch, " but never did (then don't say you are?!). I immediately called a friend at the time that was studying to become a therapist *SOBBING.*

I told my third therapist who became my third b/c my second one was becoming a father, so I was, like, "great..." I have to go through another therapist when I was beginning to like the second one, ya know? I told my third one about my first one and he had a look of shock in his face, "Did you report this?!" I still didn't.

Half-way through this time-stamp of going through my therapists, I got a ticket for possession & paraphernalia of pot, so I was *forced* to see one. Things were just *not* going in my favor. After I was done with probation, I lost the motivation to continue the sessions, so I decided to just stop.

I believe I need either a psychotherapist, counselor, or a group-thing. I need that deeper connection, but also the chance to let me just ramble on.

[anjaajane]

I have been avoiding going to therapy for 4 years now due to fear... This video has made me feel less afraid about possibly seeking help

[Jakecool]

The timing is absolutely perfect for me, not only did I just an hour ago decided to finally go to a therapis but also decided to check out your channel again.

[kaleido]

This was awesome. Also... Anyone else wish they had Kati as their therapist?

[Drummerdudegirl]

Geese that first role play on a therapy session was better than like 4 of the therapists I've seen

[meganwoehl]

Katie, I cry just thinking about going to a therapist. My anxiety spiked so high, and I'm only 36 seconds into this video. I don't know why I am like this.

[robyntaylor]

This was exactly like the 1 therapy session i went to. Expect for awkward silences, lots of those. And i never went back because i'm not a talker, and find it almost impossible to open up and talk to people. Therapy felt like a nightmare!! But thank you Kati because your videos give answers to all that's racing through my head, even though i can't express it

[Dobbs]

Watching this 20 mins before my very first session. My anxiety is through the roof right now and I’ve been putting off therapy for years now. I was so close to cancelling last minute but really forcing myself to give it a go this morning.

[wellingtonsboots]

Thank you, will try the stop, stop, stop, when my thoughts are racing. You left out the awkward silences.

[stella_.]

I am happy that the patient was flawed, unlike other skits where they are much more put together and postive. Makes it feel more realistic and what I should expect to something I might say.

[sophiatucker]

As someone who has had many many first appointments… this is accurate. I’m glad that I have one that I am going to stick with but I know that seeing one for the first time is extremely stressful. You got this y’all!

[jacklinraye]

I’ve been avoiding calling a therapist for two months from sheer anxiety and this video has finally given me the courage to call. Thank You.