The first meeting/initial consultation is an opportunity to experience what it feels like to work together. This meeting may be longer than the follow up meetings for two reasons. Firstly, I want to make sure that the person in front of me feels comfortable coming to me for help. So this is an opportunity for you to ask me questions about counselling, the way I work, about my professional experience, anything you find useful to know about me in regards to my services, my philosophy of life and the way I work.
Secondly, I need that extended time to find out a bit more about you. Some people prefer to be asked questions some do not. It will be totally up to you what you disclose. At the end of our meeting I will summarise our time together and will let you know how I feel about our future meetings. If I will have enough information at hand from you, I may also include possible ideas on what we could concentrate on at the following meetings-this is subject to a mutual agreement.
I will stress the importance that our meetings are and will be strictly confidential, meaning that I will not disclose any of what you have told me in the meetings to anyone unless I obtain a written and signed consent from you.
If at any point you will want to leave the meeting for whatever reason, you are entitled to do so.