You've already taken the hardest step in booking the appointment, now it's your first session. 

Just as your first impression of meeting someone new is important, so is entering a counseling center. We have worked hard to create a relaxing yet professional atmosphere which invites you to step out of your busy life and into a safe haven for a time.

We do set aside extra time for the initial appointment as we have found this to be the most effective way to of getting started, but the choice is yours.

The first appointment is also a time to decide if this therapist is a good fit for you. Remember, it's never too late to make changes in life or in your therapeutic relationship. We have counselors of differing backgrounds, gender and ethnicity so the options are there for you.

...in our "ideal" therapy office, the therapist comes out to the waiting room, introduces him/herself, and shows you into his/her office. If it isn't immediately obvious where to sit, you can ask; the therapist's chair is usually evident, since he/she spends the majority of his/her time in it. Otherwise, sit wherever is comfortable for you.

When you are settled, it's usually up to you to start; otherwise the therapist may prompt you with a general question such as "What brings you here?" You can describe the problem you are having, or anything else that comes to mind. Don't worry about whether you can say everything with absolute precision. The therapist should be able to help you get it all out.In this first session, you can expect to do nearly all the talking.

You can expect your therapist to listen actively. He/she may not say anything at all until halfway through the hour, or may make one or two interpretive comments or ask for clarification. While you are talking, the therapist will be listening carefully, evaluating your situation and deciding on possible treatment. In order for the therapist to do this, he/she must listen to you, and not influence what you say, or the way you say it. Beware of a therapist who talks more than you do in the first session, especially about him/herself.

Toward the second half of the time, the therapist should indicate whether or not he/she can be of help to you. He/she should then propose a therapeutic structure: a schedule of appointments, a fee, and any other related details. You have the opportunity to react to this structure, and decide whether to continue. Remember that this therapeutic structure -- the schedule, fees and other details -- is not incidental, it is a very important element of therapy. This "holding" environment is an important step in establishing the secure frame. The proposed structure should be clear and unambiguous, and should reflect safety, consistency, and containment...

Having agreed on the fee and on a regular day and time for your appointments, you are, hopefully, on your way to emotional healing. You say goodbye and leave. Many therapists allow extra time for a first session; this is probably an exception.

The above is an excerpt from www.metanoia.org