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Session Preparation: arrive at therapy knowing what you want from it

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Reviewed By

Stephanie Orr - Psychotherapist, MBABCP, 10+ years in the NHS and private practice

Journal
46 views
HIPAA & GDPR Compliant

This is your time, consider recent thoughts and feelings to make the most of your upcoming session.

Free to try Β· Responses are private & encrypted

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What does the Session Preparation Journal cover?

  1. Progress you have made since your last session
  2. How you got on with any tools or journals you tried
  3. Topics you want to revisit
  4. New topics you would like to bring up

Who is this Session Preparation Journal for?

Helpful if you: 

πŸ—“οΈ Have a therapy session coming up 

πŸ€” Get to sessions and forget what you wanted to say 

🎯 Want to get more out of each appointment 

 

For therapists: 

Send Session Preparation to clients a day or two before each appointment. Their responses arrive before you meet, so you can plan the session around what matters to them and pick up any homework they tried. Fully HIPAA and GDPR compliant.

Dr Harriet Mellotte

Dr Harriet Mellotte

Clinical Psychologist & CBT Therapist, BABCP

β€œOffload is a fantastic resource for both clients and therapists. The world of CBT has been lacking an app which enables the sharing of CBT worksheets and homework tasks between clients and therapists, but Offload completely does this, making the service we offer more professional and the benefits to clients greater.”

Frequently asked questions

How do I prepare for a therapy session?

Spend a few minutes beforehand noting what has happened since last time, how any homework or tools went, what you want to revisit and anything new you want to raise. Arriving with a short list means the session focuses on what matters to you rather than on remembering what you meant to say.

When should I fill this in?

A day or two before your appointment works best. It gives you time to notice what has come up during the week without the pressure of doing it in the waiting room. If your therapist has assigned it, completing it early means they can read it before you meet.

What if I do not know what to talk about?

That is exactly what this journal is for. The prompts walk you through progress, tools you tried and topics to revisit, and often something surfaces as you answer. It is also fine to tell your therapist you feel stuck; that is useful information in itself.

Can my therapist see my answers before the session?

Yes, if they have assigned this journal on Offload. Your responses arrive before you meet, so they can plan the session around what you have raised and pick up any homework you tried. If you use Offload independently, your entries stay private. Fully HIPAA and GDPR compliant.

Are you a therapist?

Assign this therapy tool and 200+ other interactive tools directly to your clients. Build personalised care plans, customise tools, and review client responses before sessions. HIPAA and GDPR compliant.

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https://www.offloadweb.com/tools/session-preparationMask

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What’s missing? Add any ideas for new content or tools you’d like to see.
πŸ™Œ Our mission is to make mental health tools accessible and approachable for everyone.The materials on Offload are for educational and informational purposes. They are designed to support, not replace, professional therapy or counselling.
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Related tools

  • Developing Self-care
  • Your First Session
  • Session Summary
  • Therapy Goals
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