How do you begin a your first therapy session with a client/patient? We asked Div 42 members to share theirs and got the following:

Frank Froman uses “What brings you here (“today” – optional).

Linda Higley notes that Irving Yalom always uses “What seems important today” (presumably with his established patients)

Two options used by Harry Corsover are ““How can I help you?” and “What’s going on in your life that brings you here?”.

After several background questions, Stanley Goldstein queries “What specifically brought [you] to call me”

While working with geriatric residents of nursing facilities, Merla Arnold asks why the person thinks their (brother, daughter, sister, guardian) or staff member at their community asked me to “see you?”.

Nina Tocci often uses “What would you like to be different in your life”.

Ed Lundeen, based on the book “Opening Gambits” by Peter Armstrong, has now opted for “Let’s talk about what’s on your mind (allowing the patient to choose if they wish to start with their concerns or something else).

We welcome you to submit your own version to us at Romaedl@juno.com (Eds.)