Pillar 1: Cost + Access
First Therapy Session: What to Expect + How to Prepare
3 Min Read
“I’ve booked, but what will happen?"
"What if I cry?"
"What if I don’t know what to say?"
"What if the therapist judges me?"
If that’s you, you’re not weird. That’s 90% of first-timers.
At MindMed, our first sessions are ₦7,000 for individual and ₦4,000 for group. And the #1 feedback we get after is: “I was nervous for nothing."
Let’s walk through exactly what happens so you can walk in calm.
Before The Session: How to Prepare
1. You don’t need to prepare a speech
You don’t need to have your whole life story ready. Most people come in and say "I don’t even know where to start." That’s okay.
2. Think of 1 thing bothering you most
Anxiety? Sleep? Relationship? Work stress? Just pick one. We’ll go from there.
3. Find a private, quiet space
Since MindMed is online via http://Doxy.me, just grab your earphones. Bedroom, car, office during break. Wherever you won’t be interrupted.
4. Have water and tissue nearby
You might cry. You might not. Either way is fine.
5. Write down 2-3 questions
Example: "How often should I come?" "Is this confidential?" "What if I can’t afford weekly?"
During The Session: The 50-Minute Breakdown
Your MindMed individual session is 50 minutes. Here’s how it usually flows:
Minutes 0-10: Check-in + Paperwork
We’ll say hi, test your audio, and go over confidentiality.
Everything you say is private. The only exceptions are if you’re in danger of hurting yourself or someone else. That’s the law, everywhere.
Minutes 10-30: "What brought you here?"
This is the assessment part. Session 1 is mostly about understanding you.
The therapist might ask:
- What’s been going on lately?
- How long has this been happening?
- How is it affecting work, sleep, and relationships?
You can share as much or as little as you want. No pressure.
Minutes 30-45: Start Building Tools
We won’t just talk and leave you hanging.
Depending on what you bring, we might teach you:
- 1 breathing exercise for anxiety
- How to challenge 1 negative thought
- How to set one small boundary
You’ll leave with something you can actually use this week.
Minutes 45-50: Plan + Next Steps
We’ll talk about: How often should we meet? Weekly, bi-weekly?
Do you want to try the ₦32,500 package of 5 sessions?
Any toolkits that could help between sessions?
Then we book your next session if you’re ready.
Group Session: What’s Different at ₦4,000
If you booked a group:
It’s 4-7 people and 1 therapist for 50 minutes.
The therapist will introduce a topic like "managing stress" or "anxiety tools."
Everyone gets a chance to share, but you never have to talk if you don’t want to.
You’ll be surprised how much healing comes from hearing "me too."
3 Things That Will NOT Happen
You won’t be judged - Therapists have heard it all. Really.
You won’t be forced to talk about trauma - We go at your pace.
You won’t get homework you can’t do - Everything is practical for Nigerian life.
After The Session: What’s Normal
You might feel lighter - Like you dropped a bag you didn’t know you were carrying.
You might feel tired - Talking is work. Rest after.
You might have questions - That’s why we give you resources and toolkits to use between sessions.
Give yourself 24 hours. Don’t judge if it "worked" after 1 day.
Common First-Session Questions
Q: What if I cry?
A: Cry. Get your tissues nearby, you are in a safe space. It’s actually a good sign that you feel safe.
Q: Do I have to come weekly?
A: No. Many MindMed clients do bi-weekly or use the 5-session package over 3 months.
Q: Is it really confidential?
A: Yes. Online via http://Doxy.me is encrypted. And therapists are bound by ethics.
Q: What if I don’t like my therapist?
A: Tell us. Fit matters. We’ll match you with someone else. No extra charge.
Just Show Up
The hardest part is booking and clicking "join."
After that, you just have to be honest. You don’t need perfect words. You don’t need to be "bad enough."
At MindMed, your first session is ₦7,000 individual or ₦4,000 group. 50 minutes that could change how you handle the next 50 days.
You don’t have to do this alone anymore.
Ready to take the first step?
Take the Free 2-minute Screening