Definitely, a counseling session focused on listening and support is deeply therapeutic. It allows the client to feel validated, understood, and less alone in their struggles.

The counselor's role is pivotal in providing a compassionate space where the client can freely express themselves and begin to heal.

After booking your first appointment, the client is asked to logon to the client portal to read and complete some forms. These could also be sent to the client.

These forms include:

• Basic Personal Information Form - including name, date, contact information etc.

• The informed consent form including information regarding confidentiality and duty to report.

• General health and history questionnaire.

• Other assessments and/or questionnaires as needed.

In a first mental health counseling session, the focus typically centers on establishing a therapeutic alliance and gathering essential information.

The counselor introduces themselves and helps the client to feel welcome, comfortable, and safe.

The session often begins with the client describing their reasons for seeking therapy, which could range from specific issues such as anxiety or relationship difficulties to broader life challenges.

The counselor may explore the client's personal history, current life circumstances, and any previous mental health experiences to gain a comprehensive understanding of their background and concerns.

Together, they may start to outline initial goals for therapy and discuss what the client hopes to achieve.

By the end of the session, the client should have a clearer sense of how counseling can help them, while the counselor has gathered crucial information to guide future sessions effectively.

The number of sessions needed will be determined collaboratively between the counsellor and the client, based on your individual needs and the goals you hope to achieve through therapy.

Homework which we call Action Items is essential because it reinforces and extends the therapeutic process beyond the confines of the counseling session.

It allows clients to practice and apply newly acquired skills and techniques in real-life situations, which promotes skill mastery and generalization of coping strategies.

Action Items also enhances the client's engagement and motivation by actively involving them in their own therapeutic progress.

It provides valuable feedback for both the client and therapist to assess progress, identify barriers, and adjust treatment goals accordingly, making therapy more effective and efficient in achieving meaningful change.

Counselling typically ends through collaboration between the counsellor and client. This is guided by the achievement of treatment goals or mutual agreement that the client has made sufficient progress.

This decision is often reached after a number of regular sessions where the therapist and client assess improvements in emotional well-being, coping skills, and overall life satisfaction.

The transition may also be gradual with less frequent sessions aimed at empowering the client to independently apply insights and skills gained.