What to expect in your first couples counselling session

I’ve been wanting to write this blog for a while, as I think it’s important to convey what actually happens when you walk through my door for the first time. I’ve been on the other side of the therapy couch myself, so I know how nerve-wracking it can be. Where do you even start? What’s relevant to share? Are you going to tell us to break up?

Let me clear up some things.

I Won’t Tell You What to Do

No, I will not tell you to break up. I don’t believe that’s my role, my place, or up to me. Can I help you see patterns and recognise what’s working and what’s not? Absolutely. But it’s not my call to decide anything about your relationship. That decision making power stays exactly where it belongs-with you.

My whole goal is to get you having better conversations, clear out the recurring resentments and hurts, and help you feel more connected again. I’m here to be your guide, not your judge.

What Happens in Those 90 Minutes

First things first: I’ll make sure your intake and consent forms are sorted and see if you have any questions about the process.

Then I’ll ask you what’s happening currently in your relationship and what prompted you to book in. It’s important for me to hear from both of you. You may have different perspectives, and that’s completely okay. In fact, I want to hear them both so I can get a balanced view of your relationship. It’s not my role to arbitrate, point score, or say who’s right or wrong.

We’ll go through a background of your relationship: how you met, what drew you to each other, and what have been the major transitions (good, bad, and everything in between) over the years. I’ll also ask about how you communicate, how conflicts typically unfold, and most importantly, what you’d like to get out of this process.

I’ll also spend some time talking to each of you individually, just to hear a bit more about your personal background and how it shapes the way you show up in your relationship.

All of this helps me create a balanced, thorough understanding of you as a couple and as individuals.

The Real Purpose of Session One

By the end of our first session, you should have a clear sense of how I work, feel heard and understood, and know what the path forward might look like. Many couples tell me they feel relieved just having had the conversation, sometimes that’s half the battle.

Ready to Take the First Step?

If you’re a Brisbane couple considering counselling, I’d love to help you reconnect and communicate better. Book your first session today and let’s start working toward the relationship you both deserve.