How do I prepare for my first Kip session?
Book a session
Start by booking your first session with any one of our therapists. During this initial appointment, we'll get to know you and will work with you to design a customized plan based on your personal needs and goals. We'll also help you determine the most effective style and cadence for you. And we'll be here to support you, every step of the way.
Try to relax
Doing something new can give you the butterflies! It’s completely normal to feel nervous, vulnerable, or shy before your first therapy session. You are meeting a new person for the first time, with whom you will share deeply personal topics.
If you feel yourself getting nervous before your session, try to do things that have helped you calm down in the past. Go for a walk or try a breathing exercise. Remember that it’s okay to feel this way. Your therapist will do everything they can to make you feel comfortable and safe during your therapy session. Feel free to let them know if you are feeling nervous, too.
Ask yourself these questions
There are many reasons people start therapy - to better manage stress, during times of transition, or just because they’d like to learn more about themselves. Whatever your reasons, it can be helpful to take some time to reflect on what prompted you to go to therapy in the first place and what you’d like to get out of the therapy experience.
It’s completely okay to think, “I don’t know!” During your first session, your therapist will get to know you and will work with you to design a personalized plan based on your particular needs and goals. They'll also help you determine the most effective style and cadence for you.
Here are some great questions to ask yourself before your first session. You can write down the answers in your Kip app to share with your therapist.
- Why are you seeking therapy?
- What would you like to gain from therapy now?
- How would your life be different if the challenges were resolved?
- How have you been coping with this problem until now? What has worked and what hasn’t worked?
Fill out your therapist’s intake forms
Kip will send you what’s called an ‘intake form’ before your first session with a therapist. These are quick forms are similar to what you would fill out at a doctor’s office and they help your therapist prepare for your first session.
The forms will ask basic questions about your physical and mental health history, your family and relationships, and basic questions about what brings you to therapy. We recommend you fill these out at least 24 hours before your first session. Some people find filling out intake forms a helpful way to mentally prepare for their first session, too.