Your First Appointment

Your first counseling session is an opportunity for us to begin getting to know you, understand what brings you to counseling, and learn what you hope will be different in your life. You are not expected to tell your entire story during the first appointment. We will move at a pace that feels comfortable while gathering the information needed to understand how we can best support you.

Initial Intake Session

During your first appointment, Dr. Gustavo Salazar, your counselor, will spend time learning about your current concerns, symptoms, important life experiences, relationships, strengths, and the challenges that led you to seek counseling. Gustavo may ask about your emotional and physical well-being, family and relationship history, previous counseling experiences, medications, medical concerns, stressful or traumatic experiences, and other areas that may be affecting you today. You are also encouraged to ask questions and share what you would like from counseling. The goal is not simply to identify what is going wrong. We also want to understand your strengths, the relationships and resources that support you, and what has helped you through difficult experiences in the past.

Understanding Your Concerns

Together, you and Gustavo will begin exploring how your experiences may be connected to what you are feeling or experiencing today. Sometimes difficult experiences from the past can continue to influence our emotions, relationships, reactions, and beliefs about ourselves long after they end. Understanding these connections can help us determine where counseling should begin and what may be most helpful moving forward. You do not have to discuss painful experiences in detail before you are ready.

Your Goals for Counseling

An important part of your first sessions is understanding what you want to accomplish.

Gustavo may ask questions such as:

• What would you like to be different?

• What would tell you that counseling is helping?

• What would you like to understand or manage better?

• Are there relationships or areas of your life you would like to improve?

• What would you like to be able to do that feels difficult right now?

Your answers help us develop counseling goals that are meaningful and relevant to your life.

Your Comfort With Your Counselor

A strong counseling relationship matters. Your first appointment also allows you to decide how comfortable you feel with Gustavo. It is okay to ask questions about his approach to counseling, experience, recommendations, or what you can expect from counseling. We encourage open communication if something does not feel helpful or if you have questions about the direction of treatment. Counseling should be a collaborative process that respects your experiences, preferences, values, and goals.

Assessment and Treatment Recommendations

As Gustavo learns more about your concerns, he will begin to understand what may be contributing to your current difficulties and what approaches may be helpful. He will discuss their recommendations with you and explain them in understandable language. Depending on your needs, counseling may initially focus on developing coping skills, strengthening emotional regulation, improving relationships, increasing understanding of patterns or triggers, building personal resources, or preparing for more focused therapeutic work. Assessment does not always end after the first appointment. Gustavo may continue learning about your history, symptoms, strengths, and needs over the next several sessions.

Referrals and Additional Support

Sometimes counseling works best when combined with other professional services. If Gustavo believes additional evaluation or treatment may be helpful, he will discuss this with you. Recommendations may include consultation with your primary-care provider, psychiatrist, psychologist, or another healthcare professional. Conexión Counseling counselors do not prescribe medication. When symptoms suggest that a medication evaluation may be beneficial, Gustavo may recommend an evaluation by a qualified medical or psychiatric provider. A referral does not necessarily mean medication will be prescribed; you and the prescribing healthcare professional decide that. If your needs require specialized services or a level of care that Conexión Counseling does not provide, we will discuss appropriate referral options with you.

Developing Your Counseling Plan

After we better understand your needs, you and Gustavo will develop a counseling plan. Your plan may identify the concerns you want to address, the changes you hope to make, and the approaches that may help you reach those goals. He will explain recommendations and invite your input. Your counseling plan is not meant to be permanent. As you make progress or your needs change, you and your counselor can adjust your goals together.

How Long Is the First Appointment?

Your initial counseling appointment will generally last approximately 45–60 minutes, depending on your individual needs and the type of appointment scheduled. Because the first session includes gathering important background information, you may find more conversation and assessment than in later sessions.

Preparing for Your First Appointment

You do not need to prepare anything special or know exactly what to say. It can be helpful to think about:

• What brings you to counseling now

• The concerns that are affecting you most

• How long you have been experiencing them

• What you would most like to change

• Previous counseling or treatments that have been helpful or unhelpful

• Questions you would like to ask your counselor

Most importantly, you do not have to have everything figured out before coming to counseling. Helping you understand what is happening and determining where to begin is part of the counseling process.

What Happens Next?

At the end of your initial appointment, you and Gustavo will discuss the next steps. This may include scheduling your next counseling session, completing additional assessments, developing your treatment goals, practicing new coping or emotional-regulation skills, or discussing referrals when additional services would be beneficial. As counseling continues, we will regularly consider what is helping, what may need to change, and whether we are moving toward the goals that matter to you.

At Conexión Counseling, counseling begins with connection—understanding where you are today, what you have experienced, and where you would like to go from here.