Ирина Архипова – English for Psychotherapy and Counselling: Handbook for Practitioners. Английский для психотерапии и консультирования: практическое руководство (страница 9)
Closing the First Session
As the session draws to a close, the therapist typically summarizes what has been discussed. This might include acknowledging the main concerns the client has shared, highlighting any strengths noticed, and outlining the next steps.
The therapist provides encouragement, recognizing the courage it takes to seek help. They discuss the frequency of future sessions and schedule the next appointment. Many therapists also check in about how the client is feeling: “How are you feeling about our meeting today? Do you have any questions or concerns?”.
The goal is for the client to leave the first session feeling heard, hopeful, and clear about what to expect moving forward. While one session cannot solve all problems, a strong first meeting creates the foundation for meaningful therapeutic work to come.
Comprehension Questions
1. According to the text, why do many clients feel anxious before their first therapy session?
2. Why is the first impression so important in therapy?
3. What is a “safe space” and why is it important?
4. What are the main elements that therapists explain during informed consent?
5. What are the limits to confidentiality that therapists must explain?
6. How do therapeutic boundaries help clients?
7. What are the ways to help therapists build rapport with new clients?
8. What is the therapeutic alliance and when is it typically established?
9. Why is collaborative goal-setting important in the first session?
10. What should happen at the end of the first session?
VOCABULARY:
Rapport, Boundaries, and Therapeutic Relationship Terms
A. Find words or phrases in the text that match these definitions:
• Easily hurt physically or emotionally (paragraph 1): _______
• The person receiving therapy (used throughout): _______
• Agreement and permission based on full information
(paragraph 5): _______
• The quality of being open and honest (paragraph 5): _______
• Listening with full attention and engagement
(paragraph 11): _______
• Understanding and sharing another person’s feelings
(paragraph 11): _______
• Acceptance without criticism (paragraph 11): _______
• Working together toward a common goal
(paragraph 13): _______
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B. Complete the collocations from the text:
1. therapeutic _______
2. _______ spaces
3. informed _______
4. _______ consent
5. build _______
6. establish _______
7. _______ listening
8. open-_______ question
9. _______ regard
10. collaborative _______-setting
C. Word families
Complete the table:
D. Vocabulary in context
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence:
1. The therapist showed great _______ (empathy / sympathy) by truly understanding the client’s perspective.
2. Clear _______ (borders / boundaries) help create a safe therapeutic environment.
3. The client felt _______ (vulnerable / week) sharing such personal information.
4. Therapists must _______ (establish / install) trust from the very first meeting.
5. The _______ (relationship / rapport) between therapist and client developed quickly.
6. _______ (Informed / Knowledgeable) consent ensures clients understand the therapy process.
7. The therapist practised _______ (active / busy) listening throughout the session.
8. Setting _______ (collaborative / collective) goals helps focus the therapy work.
GRAMMAR FOCUS:
Present Simple vs. Present Continuous / Question Formation
A. Present Simple vs. Present Continuous
We use different tenses to describe different types of actions in therapy:
Present Simple:
• For regular routines, permanent situations, and general truths
• For describing what professionals generally do
Form:
• Affirmative: Subject + verb (+ s/es for he/she/it)
• Negative: Subject + don’t/doesn’t + main verb
• Questions: Do/Does + subject + main verb?
Examples from therapy practice:
• Therapists explain confidentiality in the first session.