ABSTRACT
The first session can be daunting for Level I counselors. Entire books have been devoted to the topic of how to conduct this crucial, initial meeting. There are multiple tasks that must be accomplished: informed consent, orientation to the therapeutic process, the collection of essential demographics, mandated intake forms, issues of payment, cancellation policies, satisfaction surveys, privacy policy, and more. Unfortunately, with so many different tasks requiring attention, the client and his reason for coming for therapy are almost afterthoughts! In recognizing the many demands impinging on the Level I counselor, it is relatively easy to understand why it is tempting for such a beginning practitioner to take a default position that is linear in its emphasis.
