What to Expect

Starting therapy can feel unfamiliar, especially if you have never worked with a therapist before. Knowing what to expect can make the process feel a little more comfortable.

Before your first appointment, you will be asked to complete intake forms that include basic contact information as well as questions about your medical, mental health, family, and personal history. Because Crespo Mental Health is a virtual practice, these forms are completed electronically before your session whenever possible.

Your first session is primarily an opportunity for you and your therapist to begin getting to know one another. Your therapist will ask questions about what brought you to therapy, what you have been experiencing, and what you hope will be different as a result of treatment.

You may also be asked about your relationships, family background, significant life experiences, current stressors, physical or emotional symptoms, and other areas that may help your therapist better understand the whole picture. You do not have to tell your entire story in the first session. If there is something you are not ready to discuss, you can let your therapist know.

Therapy Is Collaborative

Therapy is not something that is simply done to you. You are an active part of the process.

We encourage clients to ask questions, share concerns, give feedback, and let their therapist know what feels helpful—or what does not. Your therapist will work with you to identify goals and develop an approach that reflects your individual needs, experiences, and strengths.

As therapy progresses, the focus may include gaining greater insight into emotional or relationship patterns, learning new coping strategies, strengthening communication and boundaries, processing difficult experiences, or making practical changes in everyday life.

What Happens After the First Session?

The first appointment helps both you and your therapist begin determining whether the relationship feels like a good fit and what type of support may be most helpful.

Together, you will discuss recommendations for treatment, which may include the areas you would like to focus on and how frequently sessions should occur. Most clients begin with weekly appointments, although frequency may vary depending on individual needs.

Give the Process Time

Therapy is not a quick fix, and meaningful change rarely happens all at once. Some sessions may feel productive and energizing, while others may bring up difficult emotions or require time for reflection.

The goal is not perfection. Therapy is a process of developing greater awareness, trying new ways of responding, and gradually creating changes that can extend beyond the therapy session and into everyday life.

You do not need to arrive knowing exactly what to say or what you need. Beginning the conversation is enough.