Have you been thinking about speaking to a counsellor but found yourself hesitating before booking a session?
You may have questions such as:
- What happens during the first session?
- Do I need to know exactly what I want to talk about?
- Is counselling only for people experiencing a serious mental health concern?
- What if I do not know how to explain what I am feeling?
- Do I need to be comfortable with art if expressive arts approaches are used?
- Is the session suitable for children or teenagers?
- What if I feel nervous about speaking to someone for the first time?
These are understandable questions. Knowing what to expect can make taking that first step feel much easier.
In my 1:1 Counselling & Emotional Wellness sessions, I offer a supportive space where we can explore what you are experiencing and identify approaches that are appropriate for your needs. Expressive arts approaches may also be incorporated where they are clinically appropriate and useful for the person.
Watch the YouTube Video
I have answered some of the most common questions people ask before booking a 1:1 session in this video:
If you are considering booking a session, watching the video can give you a better idea of what to expect.
What Is a 1:1 Counselling Session?
A 1:1 counselling session is an individual therapeutic conversation between you and a qualified mental health professional.
The session provides an opportunity to talk about concerns that are affecting your emotional wellbeing, relationships, daily functioning or personal life.
You do not need to arrive with a perfectly organised explanation of what is happening.
You might know exactly what you want to discuss.
You might simply know that something has been feeling difficult and that you would like some support in understanding it.
Both are valid starting points.
During a session, we can explore your concerns at a pace that feels appropriate and consider strategies or therapeutic approaches that may support you.
Do I Need to Know Exactly What I Want to Talk About?
No.
This is one of the questions I hear from people who are considering counselling for the first time.
You might think:
“I do not even know where to begin.”
That does not mean you are unprepared for counselling.
You can start by describing what has been happening recently.
For example:
- “I have been feeling overwhelmed.”
- “I keep overthinking things.”
- “I am struggling to manage my emotions.”
- “I am having difficulty communicating with my child.”
- “I feel stuck and do not know what I need.”
- “Something has been bothering me, but I cannot put it into words.”
The conversation can develop from there.
You do not need to prepare a presentation about your life before attending a counselling session.
What Happens During a 1:1 Session?
The exact structure can vary depending on the person and the concerns being explored.
A session may involve talking about what has been happening, identifying patterns or challenges, exploring emotions and considering practical ways forward.
For some clients, verbal conversation may be enough for a particular session.
For others, an expressive approach may make it easier to explore an experience.
This is where expressive arts approaches can become useful.
What Are Expressive Arts Approaches?
Expressive arts approaches use creative processes as part of therapeutic exploration.
Depending on the individual and the therapeutic context, this can include activities involving drawing, painting, writing, imagery, movement or other creative forms.
The creative process can provide another way to communicate an experience when finding the right words feels difficult.
Research into creative arts therapies has explored several possible therapeutic factors, including symbolism, metaphor, embodiment and concretisation. These approaches can provide ways of exploring experiences through something tangible or observable rather than relying entirely on verbal discussion.
Research has also examined creative arts approaches across different populations and settings. Findings have reported associations with outcomes such as self-expression, self-esteem, anxiety, depression and psychosocial wellbeing, although the strength and quality of evidence varies across interventions and populations.
That distinction matters. Creative expression can be incorporated thoughtfully within counselling, but a particular creative activity should not be presented as a guaranteed treatment for a specific condition.
Do I Need to Be Good at Art?
Absolutely not.
This is another common concern.
You do not need drawing skills.
You do not need to know how to paint.
You do not need to create something aesthetically pleasing.
You do not need to consider yourself a creative person.
When expressive arts approaches are used therapeutically, the focus is on the person’s experience and the process of exploration.
A simple line, colour, shape or image can sometimes provide a starting point for conversation.
The finished page does not need to look like artwork that belongs in a gallery.
Is Expressive Arts Therapy Suitable for Children?
Creative approaches can be particularly useful when working with children because children may communicate experiences through play, images, stories and other forms of expression.
Research examining art therapy with children and adolescents has found a range of approaches being used, with therapist behaviour and the choice of materials adapted according to the child’s needs and circumstances.
However, an expressive activity should be selected thoughtfully rather than used simply because a child enjoys drawing.
The child’s developmental level, presenting concerns, preferences and therapeutic context all matter.
For children, sessions may therefore look different from sessions with adults.
What About Teenagers?
Teenagers can also benefit from having a space where they can explore experiences without feeling that they have to provide a perfectly structured explanation from the beginning.
A teenager may prefer talking.
Another teenager may respond better to writing, visual expression or another creative process.
The approach can be adapted according to the person rather than forcing every client through the same session format.
Research into creative arts therapies with emerging adults has explored their potential as approaches that can make mental health support feel more accessible, with art therapy and poetry therapy among the modalities studied.
What If I Feel Nervous Before the Session?
Feeling nervous about an initial counselling session is understandable.
You are meeting someone new and discussing aspects of your life that may feel personal.
You can tell your counsellor that you are nervous.
You can also say:
“I do not know what to say.”
That itself can become the beginning of the conversation.
You do not need to perform being comfortable.
A first session can take some time to establish familiarity and understand what you are hoping to get from counselling.
Do I Have to Talk About Everything?
No.
A counselling session is not an interrogation.
You can decide what you are ready to discuss.
If there is something you do not want to talk about yet, you can communicate that.
The therapeutic process should take your circumstances and readiness into consideration.
If a particular topic is important to the work, it can be approached thoughtfully rather than forcing disclosure before you are ready.
Can I Use Art at Home Between Sessions?
You can use creative expression as a personal reflective practice between sessions, provided you understand that an individual creative activity is not automatically equivalent to therapy.
A simple journal, sketchbook or set of coloured pencils can give you a place to record thoughts, images or experiences that you may later choose to discuss with your counsellor.
Products You Could Keep at Home
If you enjoy creative reflection, these are some useful materials to consider.
1. Blank Sketchbook
A plain sketchbook can be used for free drawing, visual journalling, colour exploration or recording images that come to mind.
2. Coloured Pencils
Coloured pencils are easy to use and do not require much preparation. They can be useful for simple colour-based expressive exercises.
3. Watercolour Set
A basic watercolour set can provide another medium for people who enjoy working with colour and fluid materials.
4. Guided Journal
A guided journal can provide prompts for reflection between sessions.
Look for a journal that encourages open-ended reflection rather than promising to treat a mental health condition.
5. Drawing Pencils and Basic Art Set
A simple pencil set can be enough for someone who prefers monochrome drawing or wants to begin with very basic materials.
A note about these products: Creative materials can support personal reflection, but buying art supplies does not replace counselling or psychotherapy when professional support is needed.
Who Can Book a 1:1 Session?
My Counselling & Emotional Wellness 1:1 sessions are designed for:
- Children
- Teenagers
- Adults
The session can incorporate expressive arts approaches where appropriate.
If you are unsure whether the session is suitable for your particular concern, you can review the booking information before making your decision.
What Can You Bring to the Session?
You can bring whatever feels relevant to what you are experiencing.
This might be a particular situation that has been troubling you.
It might be a recurring emotional difficulty.
It might be a concern involving your child.
It could also be a general feeling that you would like support in understanding yourself better.
You do not need to have a diagnosis.
You do not need to have a counselling vocabulary.
You do not need to arrive with a solution.
A clear description of what you are experiencing is enough to begin.
What If I Am Unsure Whether Counselling Is Right for Me?
It is reasonable to have questions before making a booking.
You can start by learning about the service and considering what kind of support you are looking for.
The YouTube video accompanying this article answers several of the questions I commonly receive before a 1:1 booking:
You can also read the session information on the booking page before deciding whether you would like to book.
Ready to Explore a 1:1 Session?
If you are looking for individual support and would like to explore your emotional wellbeing through counselling, with expressive arts approaches incorporated where appropriate, you can book a 60-minute Counselling & Emotional Wellness 1:1 session.
Book your session
The session is available for children, teenagers and adults.
If you are still unsure, watch the accompanying YouTube video first:
A Final Note
Seeking counselling does not require you to have everything figured out before you arrive.
You can begin with a question.
You can begin with a concern.
You can even begin with, “I am not sure what I need.”
That can be enough to start a conversation.
If you feel that individual support could be helpful, you can explore the session details and decide whether booking feels appropriate for you.
Book your 1:1 Counselling & Emotional Wellness session here
Watch the YouTube video:
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