What to Expect at Your First Session: A Neurodivergent-Friendly Guide

Starting counselling can raise a lot of different thoughts and emotions. If you have ADHD, autism, or both the idea of meeting someone new and talking about your thoughts or feelings for 50 minutes might bring up a lot of questions (and maybe some sensory concerns too).

I’ve written this post to help you know exactly what to expect when we meet for the first time. No pressure, no jargon, just a calm and honest guide to help ease your mind.

🛋️ First, The Space

My practice isn’t a traditional, clinical space. Whether we meet online or in person, I aim to create an environment that feels comfortable, safe, and as sensory-friendly as possible. Think cosy furniture, low lighting, optional fidgets, and no expectations about how you “should” show up.

If we’re online, feel free to join the session from your bed, couch, or your favourite sensory-safe corner. You’re welcome to stim, bring a comfort item, wear headphones, or do whatever helps you feel most at ease. You won’t need to make eye contact or speak in a certain way. I genuinely want you to be yourself here.

If we are meeting in person, I am happy to provide clear instructions of how to get to the space and even send photos of the room and entrance so that you can be more comfortable arriving for the first time.

🤝 We’ll Start With Hello And Go at Your Pace

The first session is really just about getting to know each other. There’s no pressure to share everything all at once, and no need to talk about anything you’re not ready for.

I might ask things like:

• What brought you here?

• What’s been going on for you recently?

• What are you hoping to get out of counselling?

I might also ask you about how you are most comfortable communicating and if you have any particular sensory needs or concerns that we can address to help you feel more comfortable in the space.

But we can also talk about your latest hyperfixation, favourite video game, special interest, or whatever feels easiest to start with. I'm really passionate about including these things in the counselling sessions because it is an important way to help me understand you more fully and make counselling a more relatable experience.

🗺️ I’ll Also Explain a Few Practical Things

Early on, if we have not already had an initial call, I’ll walk you through some basics like:

• Confidentiality: What you say in session stays in session (except in very specific situations that I’ll clearly explain).

• How sessions work: We’ll chat about frequency, length, and whether you prefer in-person, online, or a mix of both.

• Your goals: These don’t need to be big or fixed. A goal might be “I want to feel less overwhelmed” or “I want help managing executive function.” And if you’re not sure yet - that’s completely fine too.

We’ll figure things out together, at a pace that works for you.

🎮 I Use Creative Tools (Only If You Want Them)

Because I work mostly with neurodivergent clients, I offer some more creative and flexible approaches alongside traditional talking therapy. If you’re open to it, we might use:

• Therapeutic games like Dungeons & Dragons, or board games to help explore emotions and build trust.

• Art or storytelling as a way to express things that might feel hard to put into words.

• Visuals or structure tools for those who like predictability or need help organising thoughts.

You’ll never be pressured to use any of these. I’ll always ask first and check in to see what feels helpful (or not). I have different resources in the space and if you feel drawn to using any particular resource in a session or want to have a look at what's available, that's absolutely fine.

💡 You Don’t Have to Mask

You never need to “act neurotypical” in my sessions. You don’t need to apologise for the way you communicate, move, or process. You are not too much, too intense, too quiet, too talkative, or too different.

You get to show up exactly as you are, and we’ll build our work together around your needs, not around some cookie-cutter version of therapy.

💭 Final Thoughts

It isn't unusual to be unsure of what to expect or to even be unsure of what questions to ask when it comes to making a decision to start counselling. I hope this post can assist you with making that decision and understanding a bit more about what you can expect at that initial session. Every person I work with brings a unique mix of strengths, struggles, and stories and I genuinely feel honoured to support people as they navigate their own path.

Your first session doesn’t have to be perfect or profound. You don’t have to have it all figured out or know exactly how to start. Just come as you are.

And if you have any specific needs, like sensory preferences, communication styles, or anything that would help you feel more at ease please let me know and I’ll always do my best to adapt.

Ready to take the first step? You can book a free 30 minute initial call or arrange a session using my contact form below.