Starting out · 30 October 2026
What happens in a first session
Not knowing what to expect is one of the biggest reasons people put off booking. So here is the whole first hour, step by step.
Written by the Stillwater counsellors
If you only read this
- You give a first name only at the desk
- Confidentiality and its limits are explained first
- You choose what to share, and silence is allowed
- You decide at the end whether to come again
Arriving
Our front desk is on the first floor on Kachia Road. You give your first name, and you are offered water or tea. The waiting room is small and quiet, and appointments are spaced so you rarely meet anyone.
If you are on video, you open the link a few minutes early. Find a spot where you will not be overheard; a parked car works for many people.
The first few minutes
Your counsellor introduces themselves and explains confidentiality: what you say stays in the room, except if there is a serious risk to your life or someone else, or a court orders it. Ask anything about this. It matters.
You do not have to tell your whole story in the first session, or ever.
Talking
The counsellor may ask what made you book now, what you hope might be different, and a little about your life: work, family, sleep, health. You can answer briefly, at length, or say you would rather not. Silence is allowed too.
Many people cry in a first session, and many do not. Both are fine. There are tissues, and nobody will rush you.
The last ten minutes
Near the end you talk about how it felt and whether to meet again. If you decide to continue, you agree a regular time and a fee on the sliding scale. If not, that is fine. You leave by the side door if you prefer.
This piece is general information, not advice for your situation. Stillwater is not an emergency service. If you or someone else is in danger right now, call 112.