Starting the counselling relationship
Your first contact with your chosen practitioner may be by telephone. Often you will get an answerphone, used by the therapist to avoid interruption during counselling sessions. Do not be put off by this - the practitioner will telephone you if you leave your name and number.

The first appointment will be an opportunity to discuss whether continued counselling would be appropriate to your needs and therefore it is without obligation on either side. The following might be considered:

Practical considerations such as time, place, cost and duration of meetings will need to be decided, and you should feel free to ask questions about the counsellor’s professional background.
All that takes place between counsellor and client is treated with respect and discretion and agreement is usually made during this first session about confidentiality. If exceptional circumstances arise, your consent will be sought for a change in this agreement.
It is a good idea to ask if notes are kept; if so, for what purpose and who has access to them. Access by you to any notes should be agreed at the outset of counselling.
There is no need to commit yourself to a long-term contract unless you are satisfied that this is what you want. Arrange a regular review of sessions with your counsellor to evaluate your progress and perhaps renegotiate the contract.
By the end of this appointment, you should be able to decide if you wish to work with the counsellor. What you agree now will form a contract between the two of you. Many counsellors are putting their contracts in writing to avoid any misunderstandings, but a verbal contract is still valid.

If you are not sure about the first counsellor you see, it is better to arrange to see another. Having confidence in your counsellor is essential and will enable you to get the best out of the work you do together.

This text appears in its original form in the Counselling and Psychotherapy Resources Directory 2007.