First Sessions Guide for New Therapists

Early sessions are where new therapists often feel the most pressure: you want to build rapport, understand the client properly, and still cover the legal and clinical essentials. Without a structure, it is easy to leave session one feeling unsure of what you achieved—or worse, to miss critical items like consent, confidentiality limits, or basic risk screening. That uncertainty adds stress and can lead to inconsistent practice.

This resource gives you a simple, practical flow for first sessions. It guides you through a calm opening, how to set expectations, what to explain (and when), and the core information to gather without turning the session into an interrogation. It also helps you hold onto professionalism when the presentation is complex, emotional, or unclear—so you can stay present with the person in front of you while still covering what matters.

Download the checklist below if you want a reliable “session one backbone” you can keep beside you until the process becomes second nature. You can download here