ABSTRACT
The initial sessions of therapy set the scene for the work that follows, acclimatize the client to therapy, and start the process of change. Cornell describes the tasks of the initial sessions as being engagement and collaboration, clarifying with the client how the therapy will work (what is involved in therapy) and assessment. One key aspect of the initial sessions is letting the client tell their story. Nowadays, most therapists have an online presence via a website or profile with an online directory. Typically, clients will have read this and already identified that they feel therapists are a suitable match for their needs. The client needs to experience some of what therapy is about, and how the therapy will work during this opening stage. In terms of assessment, a holistic view of assessment is recommended, as opposed to one which focuses entirely on problems and the client's pathology.
