What Questions Do Therapists Ask in the First Session?

Are you planning to visit a Montreal therapist for the first time? For couples, attending the first session with a therapist can be somewhat challenging since you don’t know what to expect. Different therapists will have unique approaches to handling a couple’s first session, however there are some questions that nearly every therapist will ask during your first visit. It pays to familiarize yourselves with these questions before attending the session so that you can have a rough idea of what to expect and formulate a suitable response.

Continue reading for a brief look at some of the questions your therapist is likely to ask you on your very first visit.

Why are you seeking therapy now?

This is one of the questions you will definitely be asked during your first session with a Montreal therapist. By asking this question, the therapist is opening the door for you to share with them anything that may be occurring in your life, and which you think seeing a therapist would help. 

Usually, the therapist expects you to tell them about situations such as a breakup, increased levels of anxiety, conflicts with family members, or bigger steps in life such as becoming a new parent. They simply want to know what prompted you to seek their help.

Have you ever been to therapy before?

Therapists want to know if you have sought therapy before. Your response will help them understand you better and allow them to offer you the best approach, which will vary depending on whether or not you have been to therapy before. If you have seen a therapist before, then they will want to learn about your experience from past sessions.

How have you been coping with the challenge that made you seek therapy?

The main reason why a therapist is likely to ask you this question during your first session is to understand your coping mechanism when dealing with the situation that encouraged you to seek their help. 

For instance, they would be interested in knowing if you normally cope with your hardships via productive practices such as meditation, exercise, or spending time outdoors, or if you instead indulge in or consider actions that may harm you. 

Again, your response to this question will give them a proper base for handling you in the best possible way. Be very honest with your response here since it is vital for the therapist to know the truth.

How was your life when growing up?

Most people who go for therapy in Montreal do so in an attempt to gain a better understanding of themselves and to improve how they relate to others. A therapist will ask this question so that they can learn more about your childhood to understand certain family dynamics that can inform who you are today. Childhood experiences can have a huge impact on the kind of emotions you have as an adult and on your overall manner of handling challenging situations.

Have you ever considered hurting yourself or taking your life?

If you have ever had suicidal thoughts or harmed yourself in the past, you may realize that these questions will bring back powerful emotions about your past. Still, it is important that you answer them with all the courage and honesty you can muster. 

Most therapists are interested in immediately knowing if you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or thoughts of self-harm. This is so that they can further refine their approach and consider the most appropriate level of care. 

How connected are you with the people in your immediate surroundings?

The state of loneliness may come with detrimental mental and physical health implications. During your very first session, your therapist may be interested in knowing how well you connect with the people in your immediate vicinity to evaluate whether or not you have a solid support system in place. 

Social support is vital for psychological well-being and having a clear understanding of your social network will enable your therapist to see how they can best use your social network resources to help you out.

What are some of your strengths?

By sharing some of your strengths with your therapists, they can help you identify certain ways that you can use your strengths to deal with overwhelming situations.

What are your expectations for therapy?

This is another common question your therapist is likely to ask during your very first session. The main goal of this question is to help the therapist have a clear understanding of your expectations. 

Also, through your responses, they will help you manage your expectations so that you can get the most out of your visit. 

When considering your goals for therapy, ensure that you are as specific as possible concerning what you want to achieve, and that you have a clear picture of the end result as far as improving your life is concerned.

How do you cope with stress?

Your response to this question will help the therapist gain insights into some of the best treatments and coping strategies that are likely to work best for you. If you have problems with how you cope with stress, gaining skills and strategies that you can use to beat stress will be a step in the right direction. 

If, on the other hand, you have good coping mechanisms for dealing with stress, then the therapist may encourage you to use some of these skills during times of distress.