What a first session actually looks like.
For each modality: the opening framing, the assessment questions that earn their keep, what to listen for, common first-session mistakes, and the homework you assign before they leave.
First CBT session — opening script, questions, and what to listen for
A structured first hour: socialize the model, build a problem list, set one collaborative goal, and assign a tracking task.
First DBT session — pre-treatment, commitment, and the diary card
Pre-treatment isn't therapy yet — it's the conversation about whether and how you'll do this work together.
First ACT session — creative hopelessness and values orientation
Make room for what hurts, get clear on what matters, and start doing what matters even when it hurts.
First IFS session — finding Self and meeting one part
Introduce parts language, locate Self-energy, and let the client meet one protector with curiosity.
First EMDR session — history, resourcing, and the case for the protocol
Phases 1 and 2 — history-taking and resource development. No reprocessing on session one.
First MI session — engaging, focusing, and listening for change talk
Don't argue. Don't fix. Reflect, ask open questions, and listen for the client's own reasons to change.
First SFBT session — miracle question, scaling, and exceptions
Spend almost no time on the problem. Build a detailed picture of the preferred future and find when it's already happening.
First Gottman session — the assessment arc and what to map
Couples first sessions in Gottman are assessment-heavy: meet the couple together, then individually, then deliver feedback.
First EFT session — alliance, presenting cycle, and beginning de-escalation
Build alliance with each partner, surface the negative cycle, and externalize it as the enemy — not each other.