Hi Daycia... Leah gave you excellent advice! I just wanted to add it's totally normal to be nervous before a first appointment with a therapist!

My experience has been that 1st appointments are actually somewhat *easier* than future appointments, because the therapist will be trying to understand your history and your problems, so there will be quite a bit of structure and questions. Definitely make sure you take the opportunity to ask any questions you have as well, so you can see how the therapist reacts and get the information you need about their practice.

And, as Leah pointed out - you don't have to go back. After my first visit with my current therapist, he asked if I wanted to schedule another appointment. I told him, "thanks, I'd like to think about it. Can I get back in touch with you?" - and he said, "of course!".

I find that "thinking about it" gives me some space to think about how I felt with the therapist, rather than rushing into the relationship... but if you feel good (understood, heard, like you click and like the therapist can help you) during the first session, by all means go ahead and schedule the next one

Finally - good for you! It's hard getting up the nerve to see a therapist for the first time, so really... good for you for taking this step! Good luck, and I hope you luck out and find a wonderful therapist to help you!