What Happens During a Counselling Session?
For many people, starting counselling comes with questions, uncertainty, and anxiety about the process. It is common to wonder how to prepare for a first counselling session, what to talk about, and what to expect from working with a psychologist.
Psychological counselling provides a safe and confidential space where you can talk about anxiety, life crises,, relationship difficulties, emotional burnout, self-esteem concerns, or other challenges that may be affecting your emotional well-being and quality of life.
Counselling is tailored to your individual needs and takes into account your concerns, life circumstances, personal pace, and the specific emotional difficulties, relationship challenges, anxiety-related concerns, or life transitions you may be experiencing. There are no universal solutions or predetermined approaches — each counselling process is unique and develops according to your individual goals, needs, and personal circumstances.
In my work, I use an integrative approach, incorporating elements of Gestalt therapy, transactional analysis, existential therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and psychodrama
Your First Counselling Session: What to Expect
The first counselling session is focused on getting to know you, understanding your situation, and exploring the concerns, emotional difficulties, relationship challenges, or life circumstances that have brought you to counselling.
At the beginning of the first counselling session, you will have an opportunity to talk about what brought you to counselling, the emotional difficulties, relationship challenges, anxiety-related concerns, or life circumstances that are affecting you, and the changes you would like to achieve.
During the session, we will clarify your goals and concerns, discuss your expectations for counselling, and explore possible directions for future psychological support, personal growth, and meaningful change.
Many people feel anxious before their first counselling session and are unsure what to expect from meeting with a psychologist. This is completely natural. The first counselling session is not about being judged, pressured, or feeling that you need to talk about everything at once.
The purpose of the first counselling session is to help you better understand your situation, gain greater clarity, develop a stronger sense of inner stability, and explore possible directions for future counselling, personal growth, and positive change.
For many people, the first counselling session becomes an opportunity to pause, look at their situation from a different perspective, and gain greater clarity, understanding, and insight into what they are experiencing.
How to Prepare for Your First Counselling Session
No special preparation is required before your first counselling session.
You are welcome to come to counselling even if you find it difficult to define the problem clearly, understand what is wrong, or know where to begin. During the counselling process, we will gradually explore your concerns, emotional difficulties, relationship challenges, or life circumstances and identify what is most important for you to focus on.
Do You Need to Continue Counselling After the First Session?
No.
The initial consultation is an opportunity for us to get to know each other and does not commit you to continuing therapy.
The first counselling session provides an opportunity to get to know each other, discuss your situation, gain an initial understanding of possible directions for future work, and explore whether counselling feels like the right form of support for you. It is also a chance to listen to yourself, reflect on your experience of the session, and decide whether you feel comfortable, understood, and supported within this therapeutic relationship.
Confidentiality
All consultations are confidential. Information discussed during sessions is not shared with third parties without the client's consent, except in rare circumstances required by professional ethics or applicable law.
If you have questions about confidentiality, privacy, or the security of speaking with a psychologist, you can learn more in the article Confidentiality in Counselling: Will Our Conversation Remain Private?.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does a Counselling Session Last?
An individual counselling session lasts 50 minutes.
Is Online Counselling Available?
Yes. Counselling sessions are available both in person in Tallinn and online.
What If I Do Not Know How to Begin?
No special preparation is required. During the session, we will work together to understand what is most important for you and where it may be helpful to begin.
How Many Counselling Sessions Will I Need?
The number of sessions depends on your situation, goals, and individual needs. In some cases, a single counselling session may be helpful, while in others a longer counselling process may be beneficial.
You can find more information about the counselling process, consultation fees, and available appointment formats on the following page: Psychological consultation.
Book a consultation
Consultations are available both in person in Tallinn and online for Russian-speaking clients living in Estonia, Finland, and other European countries. The first session does not commit you to continuing therapy and provides an opportunity for us to get to know each other, discuss your situation, and decide whether you would like to continue working together.