Starting counseling for the first time can feel nerve-wracking. The American Psychological Association notes that it is normal to feel a little anxious before a first counseling session, and that having the courage to reach out is itself a first step toward feeling better. You do not need the right words, and you do not have to have everything figured out before you call. Showing up is the first step. This guide explains what to expect at a first counseling session in Westerville.
At New Heights Counseling Services’ Westerville office, your first counseling session takes place in a private office at 120 N. Otterbein Ave., Westerville, Ohio 43081, close to Uptown Westerville. We work with children, teens, adults, couples, and families. Sessions are by appointment only, Monday through Saturday. You can meet in person, or through a telehealth session from anywhere in Ohio.
How to schedule your first session
Call us at (614) 918-8349, or send a message through our contact page. When you reach out, choose “Westerville” as your preferred location, tell us whether you would like to meet in the office or online, and tell us who the counseling is for, whether that is you, a couple, your family, or a child.
When you call, we will walk you through insurance, any forms, and what to bring. Our intake form lists Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, CareSource, and Medical Mutual of Ohio, along with a self-pay option. Coverage varies by plan.
What happens at a first counseling session in Westerville
Here is what usually happens at a first counseling session with New Heights Counseling Services:
- A warm welcome. Your counselor will introduce themselves, explain how confidentiality works, and answer your questions.
- Sharing your story. Your first session is a chance to share what brought you in, in your own words.
- Setting first goals. Together you will name a few goals that matter to you and talk about next steps.
The American Psychological Association describes a similar rhythm in psychotherapy more generally. A first session often begins with practical matters, including confidentiality, and with an open question such as “What brought you here today?” You do not have to say more than you are comfortable sharing at the start.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration also encourages people to be honest about what they are feeling and thinking, so their counselor can get a full picture and work with them on a plan.
Ohio counseling rules ask licensees to explain the purpose of services, relevant costs, reasonable alternatives, and your right to refuse or withdraw consent, and to talk with you about confidentiality and its legal limits as early as possible. Your first counseling session is when much of that conversation happens.
Is what I share private?
Yes. Everything you share with us is kept confidential, with a few exceptions required by law, such as concerns about someone’s safety. Your counselor will explain these at your first session.
That approach matches Ohio’s professional standards for counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists. Those rules give licensees a primary obligation to protect your confidentiality, except when failing to share information would violate other laws or would result in clear and present danger to you or to others. The American Psychological Association describes similar limits in psychotherapy, including danger to someone, required reports of abuse or neglect, and some court orders.
What brings people to counseling
People come to counseling for many reasons. The National Institute of Mental Health notes that someone might seek talk therapy because of long-term stress, the loss of a loved one, relationship or family problems, or symptoms such as changes in sleep, low energy, persistent irritability, excessive worry, or a hopelessness that will not go away.
In Westerville, we offer individual, couples, family, and child counseling, including support for anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), addiction, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and sleep trouble linked to worry or low mood.
Everyone worries sometimes, but the National Institute of Mental Health explains that anxiety can linger even when there is no danger, and it may get in the way of daily life. About 1 in 5 U.S. adults had an anxiety disorder in the past year, and about 1 in 3 adults will experience one at some point in life. Anxiety can be treated, and many people are helped by talk therapy, medicine, or both. Learn more on our anxiety counseling page.
Depression is more than ordinary sadness. The National Institute of Mental Health describes symptoms that last most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks, and notes that depression is treatable with psychotherapy, medicine, or both. After a traumatic event—a shocking, scary, or dangerous experience—it is natural to feel afraid, and most people recover over time. If symptoms do not improve, talking with a counselor can help. Post-traumatic stress disorder can be treated.
If you have questions about attention or follow-through, start with Could it be ADHD? and Understanding ADHD. For sleep and mood, see our sleep counseling page. Parents, teens, and families can also learn about family counseling.
How talk therapy can help
The National Institute of Mental Health describes psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, as treatment that aims to help a person identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. In general, the goals are to gain relief from symptoms, maintain or enhance daily functioning, and improve quality of life. One well-studied approach is cognitive behavioral therapy, which can help a person notice unhelpful automatic thoughts, understand how those thoughts affect feelings and behavior, and practice new ways of coping. Research has shown that many therapies can reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders. A review of 41 studies also found that cognitive behavioral therapy worked better than a placebo for many anxiety disorders.
Good counseling begins with a trusting relationship, and it is also guided by methods that research supports. At New Heights Counseling Services, every plan is tailored to you. Your counselor will work with you to set goals that matter to you. If faith matters to you, you are welcome to bring it into the conversation. If it does not, your counseling will focus on your goals.
After the first session
You do not have to walk out with every answer. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration suggests leaving an outpatient appointment knowing when you will meet again, and giving treatment time to work. You may feel better in a few weeks, or it may take a few months. If the fit does not feel right after the first few appointments, it is all right to say so.
Ready to take the first step?
If you are looking for a first counseling session in Westerville, we would be glad to walk with you. Call (614) 918-8349, or send us a message and choose “Westerville” as your preferred location. Tell us whether you would like to meet in the office or online. Help is available, and we are ready to walk with you.
If you are in crisis or thinking about suicide, please call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In an emergency, call 911.
Sources
- American Psychological Association. Understanding psychotherapy and how it works. https://www.apa.org/topics/psychotherapy/understanding
- American Psychological Association. Protecting your privacy: Understanding confidentiality in psychotherapy. https://www.apa.org/topics/psychotherapy/confidentiality
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Mental Health, Drugs and Alcohol Treatment: What to Expect? https://www.samhsa.gov/find-support/learn-about-treatment/what-to-expect-from-treatment
- Ohio Administrative Code, Rule 4757-5-02. Standards of practice and professional conduct: clients/consumers of services (informed consent and confidentiality). https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-administrative-code/rule-4757-5-02
- National Institute of Mental Health. Psychotherapies. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/psychotherapies
- National Institute of Mental Health. I’m So Stressed Out! Fact Sheet. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/so-stressed-out-fact-sheet
- National Institute of Mental Health. Anxiety Disorders. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders
- National Institute of Mental Health. Any Anxiety Disorder (statistics). https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder
- National Institute of Mental Health. Depression. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression
- National Institute of Mental Health. Coping With Traumatic Events. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/coping-with-traumatic-events
- National Institute of Mental Health. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd
- Carpenter, J. K., Andrews, L. A., Witcraft, S. M., Powers, M. B., Smits, J. A. J., & Hofmann, S. G. (2018). Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and related disorders: A meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Depression and Anxiety, 35(6), 502–514. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5992011/
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. https://988lifeline.org/get-help/