The Top 5 Tips to Get The Most Out of Your First Therapy Session

In this modern world, virtual counselling is an excellent tool for therapy, but adjusting to a digital form of counselling could be challenging for some. At Inkblot, we want you to get the best out of your counselling sessions, and we know it can be tough to know exactly where to start. We partnered with Zoe Klein, M.Ed, MSW, Registered Social Worker and therapist on the Inkblot Therapy platform, to help us compile a list of five easy tips you can implement to get the best out of your first sessions with Inkblot Therapy.

1. Outline your expectations

Creating a checklist of areas you want to focus on during your sessions can be very beneficial. This allows your therapist to understand areas you wish to work on and also allows for you to create goals and regularly keep track of your progress. Your first session will let you and your therapist outline what you expect from your future sessions. By outlining your expectations and boundaries, you and your therapist can find ways to navigate your relationship better and personalize your approach.  

Don’t forget to offer your therapist feedback. Many practitioners are always looking for ways to grow in their counselling care.

2. Reserve a time and comfortable space for your sessions

Virtual therapy allows you to connect with your therapist anywhere. It's a great option for individuals with busy schedules or limited free time. Due to this, it is good always to be mindful of inputting intentional time blocks for just you and your therapist. Finding areas with few distractions can vastly improve your sessions as it allows you to focus on your time with your therapist and uncover meaningful truths about yourself. Creating these spaces will help you be more open and honest.

3. Get familiar with the platform 

We suggest signing onto the platform ten minutes before your session begins. Arriving early and troubleshooting before sessions is a great way to mitigate the potential of being late or missing a session. Avoid being unprepared by learning how to navigate your account and enter a session on time. If you’re having any difficulties, reach out to our amazing support team, they are always happy to help.

“We all need help sometimes—be it with our mental health or signing into our accounts! Our Support team is here to ensure that technology doesn't get in the way of your mental wellness. Reach out to us any time—we'll be happy to help!” says Client Support Manager, Eduardo Vonllem

4. Do your homework

Therapy works best when you are willing to work with your therapist. It’s great to be proactive and thoughtful about what is learned after your session by taking notes (you can do so in your Inkblot account!) or taking time to reflect after your meeting. If a therapist assigns light work for you to do, always try your best to look over it before your next session, as it will create a more effective session. It is essential to do your homework so a therapist can understand what works and doesn't. This informs them on how you can work together.

5. Be yourself

One of the most important things is to be yourself! At Inkblot, we want you to love our practitioner network as much as we do and know that we have the right therapist for you. Through Inkblot’s personalized matching algorithm, we suggest the best-fitting therapist based on your needs. This is why we encourage you to be open and honest with your therapist, as we know how much potential your connection can have.

You will get more out of your sessions when you can show up as your true self.