How to go to a therapist / coach? What to expect in the first session? 

  • Contact me by phone, text message or mail: +34624256708 / info@szaboorsi.hu
  • Use an informal tone if you like.
  • Write about anything you want (esp. If you want adaptations) – or about nothing at all both are fine.  I will be respectful and open with you in every step of the way.
  • We make an appointment and I send you a link (if its online) or the directions to the therapy space in Barcelona.
  • First session: I will inform you (in 2 min) how I work and ask you about your desired outcomes. We will start to work on how can we move forward those outcomes.
  • You have control of how the therapy process will look like.

If you have reviewed the „Work Together” section on my website and like what you’ve red, you can book an initial appointment with me:

People do this in various ways, for example:

If it’s comfortable for you, we can use informal language (even in this message exchange and later on in our personal conversations.)

I aim to reply as soon as possible, but most definitely within 24 hours. You can count on my kind response. 🙂  You absolutely don’t need to worry about me thinking you reaching out to a psychologist is awkward… (I myself personally seek support too when the situation calls for it, and I consider this way of growing ourselves especially effective.)

I strive to be as flexible as possible and arrange things in a way that’s beneficial for you. Please, please feel free to bring up any extra requests or questions at any time – I’ll take it as a sign of your cooperation, hard work, and interest! I’ll appreciate it if you tell me (or trying to explore) what works best for you.

Eg. if you’d imagine the first session differently (e.g., shorter duration, in writing, at a different location, without a camera, you need more information, etc.), I can guarantee that if you let me know what you want, we’ll figure out something that works for you (and me as well).

After that, we’ll agree on a time, and I’ll share the necessary details. If you’re coming in person, I’ll give you detailed directions to find the location. (It’s a community therapy space in the middle of Barcelona’s crazy inner city, but after you get inside the building, it is totally calm. The flat has several rooms; I try to book the ones with natural light, but don’t count on it for sure.) If we’re meeting online, I’ll send a (Google Meet) link where we’ll meet.

 

You don’t need to prepare for the session, but if you feel more comfortable preparing, go ahead! Some clients believe in spontaneity, some bring notes, and some even send me their ideas in advance. None of these are required – choose the approach that feels right for you!

In therapy/coaching, we usually consider the time frame important: we start and finish the session exactly on time. You can be sure that I’ll be at the agreed place at the agreed time. (If you’re late, I’ll assume you had a good reason for it.)

When you arrive, and we start talking, I’ll inform you in two minutes about the “terms and conditions” of the consultation(s), e.g., confidentiality, how we can work together, my methods, etc. I provide a service and you have the right to what is that exactly. (If you’ve seen another helping professional before, I’ll likely ask about your experiences.)

After that, I’ll ask about your expectations, and what you think the outcome of our work together might be. If we work well, what will change in your life, and what will you do differently? What do you want to be different for you? If you don’t know the answer to these questions, that’s absolutely fine, in fact, it’s great! Therapy/coaching van totally be about thinking together on questions you don’t yet have answers to. I have no expectation for you to answer these questions right away. It’s totally okay to throw the question back, ask for clarification, misunderstand, ask for time, get frustrated, or even think I am strange!

Some find such (first) sessions stressful, and I’m used to people handling it in different ways (looking around the room thoroughly, shaking, speaking incoherently, fidgeting with their bag, etc.). All of this is more than okay, and I promise not to draw any further conclusions other than that you’re excited/stressed and still came, which is an achievement in itself!

It’s great if we can already work out some kind of goal during the first session, but it’s also possible that it takes more sessions, or it might change along the way (as you develop, realize things, and your horizons expand)! You are the one who is deciding on having the next session, and I always will respect your decisions.

We can continue the conversation about how you can get even closer to what you want. We mainly aim to move forward based on your ideas, but I’m happy to share tips, techniques, or solutions that have worked for others.

The frequency and length of the process are determined by your needs. In my practice, there’s no expectation for weekly sessions, or even regularity – at the end of the first session, we’ll discuss what works for you. If during the process you feel it’d be better to meet more or less frequently, we’ll adjust!

The key is that you’re free to craft your own development – with my support. In some therapies, there’s a pre-determined timeframe, but unless you request otherwise, there’s no such thing with me. Some people feel they’ve received what they came for after 1-2 sessions and then close or suspend the work, while others continue to see me for years.

Is this enough info for you? If not yet, feel free to ask via WhatsApp or email!

If yes, book an appointment!

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