Setting Realistic Expectations for Your First Online Counselling Session

If you have considered online counselling for your depression, anxiety, or panic attacks, among other mental health issues, then you are on the right track. Studies have shown that virtual counselling sessions can be more effective than personal counselling sessions because of easier access, greater anonymity, and better communication options including chats and emails.

But for virtual counselling to be more cost-efficient and results-effective, you have to set realistic expectations. Here’s how to get more out of your first session and, thus, enjoy more benefits including a more positive mindset and action plan from the subsequent sessions.

Know Why You Are In Counselling

Your online counsellor will be able to provide compassionate and competent therapy when he has the following personal information:

• Why you are seeking counselling

Your counsellor should have a basic understanding of your surface issues before he can determine your deeper problems. For example, you can tell him that you are in the website for depression counselling services since you have been feeling unexplainably sad for the past several weeks.

• What your personal history and current situation are

Your counsellor will ask a series of questions about your life, such as your personal history, family condition, and work situation since these can affect your mental health. For example, your counsellor will be able to provide the right combination of online relationship counselling exercises in case you are experiencing relationship issues.

• What your current symptoms are

You are well-advised to list down the onset as well as the frequency, intensity, and duration of your symptoms. You can even list down the impact of your symptoms on your daily life activities, such as your personal and professional relationships.

Your counsellor will use the information to better understand your mental health issues and provide better services to address them.

Work with Your Counsellor

Keep in mind, too, that you are in a counselling session for your own benefit. You should then be an active participant in your wellness by keeping these tips in mind:

• Be open about the questions. Your counsellor is not a mind reader and your case will always be unique from his other patients, which explains the personal questions. You should ideally answer his questions in an open and honest manner so that he can give effective suggestions on your first session.

• Ask questions of your own. You can ask questions about your mental health issues, relationship problems, and life issues as well as about the counselling sessions.

Indeed, the more active you are in your first counselling session, the more likely you can benefit from it and get more value for your money.

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