What can I expect at my first counseling session?

You are on a mental health journey - welcome.

What to expect

Remember that this is your counseling session, meant to help you! Take a deep breath, relax, and know you're in a safe place with a trained, licensed, and trustworthy counselor.

During the first session, your counselor will spend time getting to know you. They'll ask questions to better understand your concerns, your current well-being, and how they can best support you.

At the beginning of your session, your counselor will also:

    • Confirm your identity (this will require you to briefly turn your camera on)
    • Review important consent information, including HIPAA and privacy practices
    • Confirm basic details like your name, current location, and a phone number in case the session is interrupted

These steps help ensure your care is safe, secure, and meets professional and ethical guidelines.

From there, your counselor will talk with you about what brought you to therapy and what you hope to get out of it.

Tip: This is also an opportunity to decide if this counselor feels like a good fit for you.

Not feeling it? No problem. That happens.

You are welcome to share feedback with your counselor, or you can request to meet with a different counselor for your next session. You can learn how to do that here.

How to Prepare

Good news! Counseling isn't a test you need to study for!

However, if may help to reflect on a few things beforehand:

    • What brought you to seek support right now?
    • What feelings or experiences have been on your mind?
    • What would you like to feel better about?

Tip: Try finishing this sentence: "if counseling works for me, this is what will be different in my life..."

Sharing this can help your counselor support you more effectively.


Setting Yourself Up for Your First Session

To help your session run smoothly, please plan ahead:

  • Join your session on time. Your will have access to join your session beginning 15 minutes before your session start time. Please also remember there is a 15 minute grace period on both ends.
  • Have your camera available and be prepared to turn it on at the start if your session.
  • Find a private, quiet space where you can speak openly. Please ensure you are not driving.
  • Use a device with a stable internet connection (phone, tablet, or computer).
  • Make sure your device is charged for the full session.
  • Sit in a well-lit area so your counselor can clearly see you.

If identity cannot be confirmed or required consents are not completed, your counselor may not be able to continue the session.

Remember: This is a Safe Space

Counselors on the BetterMynd platform support students with a wide range of concerns.

Tip: Be as open as you feel comfortable, but remember you will get the most our of therapy when you are honest about your feelings. This is your safe space to be heard.

Your counselor is a trusted and trained professional who is ready to support you.


Common Issues Students Talk About in Counseling:

  • Feeling consistently low or sad
  • Academic pressures or performance concerns
  • Anxiety or stress
  • Housing or roommate challenges
  • Relationship or breakup concerns
  • Family or home related challenges
  • Grief and loss
  • Experiences of discrimination
  • Trauma or abuse (past or present)
  • Exploring identity, including gender identity

Privacy

Students’ privacy and confidentiality are taken very seriously in counseling. Licensing laws require counselors to protect your confidentiality, with limited exceptions. Generally, these exceptions are limited to suspicion of child abuse, imminent threat to oneself or others, a judicial subpoena or with a valid consent to release information. Immigration status is not a limit of confidentiality.


No matter what brings you into counseling, you don't have to figure it out alone. Your counselor is there to support you every step of the way.