don't be afraid, at a first session it is going to the appt. that actually is more scarier than actually sitting and talking with the therapist, my first one I got up to the door handed the guy a check and drove home crying, he tried to get me to stay and talk but I was so nervous, he called me at my home we talked and then re-scheduled after that it was like visiting a friend once or even twice a week, my only mistake was that I didn't keep in mind his job was not to be a friend so I had to hear the ethical codes /boundary speech, wish I wish at client's first visits they would hand you a printout exclaiming the "dos and dont's" of client/therapist relationships, I could of prevented myself from making an *** of myself, but I lived and learned
Don't be afraid. . . go for it

** hugs of good luck **

In giving advice seek to help, not please your friend
SOLON