Starting therapy for the first time can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re unsure what to expect from counselling. In this blog, psychotherapist Ashley Gallimore explains what happens after you send that first enquiry email, including the free initial consultation, what your first therapy session might involve, and how the therapeutic relationship is built over time.

The blog explores common worries people have before starting therapy, such as not knowing what to say, feeling nervous, or wondering whether their problems are “serious enough” for counselling. It also explains how therapy can move at your pace, what kinds of questions might come up in a first session, and why feeling safe, understood, and accepted is such an important part of the process.

Whether you’re considering in-person therapy in Yeovil or online counselling across the UK, this guide offers a reassuring and honest introduction to starting therapy for the first time.

Emotional burnout doesn’t always look like complete collapse. Sometimes it looks like constantly pushing through while quietly feeling overwhelmed inside. Explore the signs of burnout and how therapy can help.

The BACP’s new Outside View campaign raises the important issue of men’s mental health and encourages men to reach out for support sooner. In this blog, I share my thoughts on this campaign and musings on my experiences of supporting men with their mental health.