Taking the First Step: What to Expect in Therapy

By Andrea Woodard, LMHC

Before your first appointment

When you call Behavioral Health Partners, our staff will collect some basic information and help you schedule an appointment that fits your needs. Depending on the services you are seeking, you may schedule for therapy, medication management, or an ADHD assessment. Appointments are available both in person and through Zoom.

Before your appointment, you will receive information about your visit and be asked to complete a few questionnaires through MyChart. These forms help your provider better understand your current concerns and experiences. There are no right or wrong answers, and your provider will be happy to discuss any questions you may have.

During your first visit, you will also review consent forms, communication preferences, insurance information, and confidentiality policies.

Your first session

Your first session is focused on getting to know you. Your therapist will ask questions about the concerns that brought you to treatment, your current symptoms, and important areas of your life such as relationships, work, health, and support systems.

The goal is to develop a better understanding of your experiences and begin identifying goals for treatment. You are always in control of what you choose to share, and your therapist will work with you at a pace that feels comfortable to you.

What does therapy look like over time?

Therapy is a collaborative process that unfolds over time. During treatment, you and your therapist will work together to better understand challenges, develop coping skills, identify patterns that may be affecting your wellbeing, and make progress toward your personal goals.

Some sessions may focus on learning new strategies, while others may involve processing emotions, exploring life experiences, or problem-solving current concerns. Progress is rarely a straight line, but many people find that therapy helps them build greater self-awareness, resilience, and confidence in managing life's challenges.

What are the benefits of therapy?

Research from the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association shows that therapy can help people:

• Feel better emotionally by reducing symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression
• Learn healthy coping skills to manage life's challenges and changes
• Better understand their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
• Improve communication and build stronger relationships• Receive support during difficult times such as grief, trauma, or major life transitions
• Make positive changes in habits and behaviors
• Develop skills that can continue to help long after therapy ends
• Improve overall quality of life, with about 3 out of 4 people who participate in therapy experiencing meaningful benefits

Starting therapy can feel unfamiliar, but knowing what to expect can help make the process feel more comfortable and approachable. If you are struggling with stress, anxiety, depression, ADHD, or other life challenges, therapy can provide support, guidance, and practical tools to help you move toward your goals. Behavioral Health Partners is brought to you by Well-U, offering eligible individuals mental health services for stress, anxiety, depression, and ADHD. To schedule an intake appointment, give us a call at (585) 276-6900.

Resources

American Psychological Association. (n.d.). American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2012/08/psychotherapy-effective

U.S. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Checking your browser - recaptcha. National Center for Biotechnology Information. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23505985/

American Psychological Association. (n.d.-a). American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/about/policy/resolution-psychotherapy

 

Global Administrator | 8/1/2026