The First Session: Building a Strong Clinical Foundation
Live Event

The First Session: Building a Strong Clinical Foundation

Tue, Jan 19th, 2027
11:00am – 2:15pm US Eastern Time
Skip to Event Registration Info

About the Event

The first therapy session establishes the foundation for the therapeutic relationship, clinical assessment, treatment planning, and expectations for care. This training examines the clinical, ethical, and relational components of an effective first session and provides clinicians with practical strategies for balancing each of these priorities. Participants will explore best practices for informed consent, confidentiality and its limits, professional boundaries, documentation, risk assessment, and establishing clear expectations for therapy. Clinical strategies for gathering essential information, identifying presenting concerns, assessing strengths and needs, developing initial goals, and determining appropriate next steps will be discussed. The course will also emphasize relational skills that promote therapeutic alliance, psychological safety, collaboration, cultural responsiveness, and client engagement without allowing assessment requirements to overshadow connection. Through practical examples and case-based application, clinicians will develop a structured yet flexible approach to conducting first sessions that supports ethical practice, sound clinical decision-making, and a strong therapeutic foundation.

 

For this course 1.5 credits can be applied to Ethics.

Live Event
This live online event will be held as a Zoom Webinar. Attendees will have the option to interact through features such as the Chat and Q&A, but cameras and microphones will not be enabled.

Live Event Instructor

Diane Bigler

Diane Bigler

Diane Bigler, LCSW, LSCSW has over 25 years of experience in social work and mental health practice. She is a frequent national continuing education speaker and former Professor of Social Work at The University of Kansas, School of Social Welfare. Diane has been involved in the provision of clinical supervision for over 15 years and has trained hundreds of clinicians on succeeding at supervision.

Target Audience

This live interactive is intended for all professions. It is appropriate for all levels of knowledge.

Learning Objectives

After taking this activity, you should be able to:

  1. 1 Identify essential clinical, ethical, and relational components of an effective first therapy session.
  2. 2 Apply best practices for informed consent, assessment, risk evaluation, therapeutic alliance, goal development, and culturally responsive engagement during an initial session.
  3. 3 Develop a structured and flexible first-session approach that integrates ethical responsibilities, clinical information gathering, and relationship-building strategies.

Culina, I., Fiscalini, E., Martin‐Soelch, C., & Kramer, U. (2023). The first session matters: Therapist responsiveness and the therapeutic alliance in the treatment of borderline personality disorder. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 30(1), 131-140. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2783

del Río Olvera, F. J., Rodríguez-Mora, Á., Senín-Calderón, C., & Rodríguez-Testal, J. F. (2022). The first session is the one that counts: An exploratory study of therapeutic alliance. Frontiers in psychology, 13, 1016963. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.101696

Gerke, L., Pauls, F., Ladwig, S., Liebherz, S., Reininger, K. M., Kriston, L., ... & Nestoriuc, Y. (2024). Optimizing treatment expectations and decision making through informed consent for psychotherapy: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 92(2), 93. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000851

Lavik, K. O., McAleavey, A. A., Kvendseth, E. K., & Moltu, C. (2022). Relationship and alliance formation processes in psychotherapy: A dual-perspective qualitative study. Frontiers in psychology, 13, 915932. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.915932

Wampold, B. E., & Flückiger, C. (2023). The alliance in mental health care: conceptualization, evidence and clinical applications. World Psychiatry, 22(1), 25-41. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.21035

Disclosure to Learners

CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity – including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests).

The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity's planners, faculty, and the reviewer:

Planners and Reviewers

The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.

Faculty

There are no known relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Commercial support

There is no commercial support for this distance-learning course.

Use our CE Approvals tool to look up your state requirements and how can help you meet them, or log in to your member account to show approvals relevant to your licensure.

Joint Accreditation (JA)

3 Psychologist CE credit hours
3 Social Worker CE credit hours Clinical
Eligible until Jan 19th, 2027
In support of improving patient care, CE Learning Systems, LLC, is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
More Info
Logo: Jointly Accredited Provider (tm) - Interprofessional Continuing Education

American Psychological Association (APA)

3 CE credit hours Clinical
Eligible until Jan 19th, 2027
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
More Info
Logo: American Psychological Association

Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB ACE)

3 CE credit hours Clinical
Eligible until Jan 19th, 2027
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, CE Learning Systems LLC is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 3 clinical continuing education credit(s).
More Info
Logo: ASWB ACE approved continuing education

National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)

3 CE credit hours
Eligible until Jan 19th, 2027
CE Learning Systems has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5951. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CE Learning Systems is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. 3 NBCC hour(s) awarded.
More Info
Logo: Approved Education Provider - NBCC

NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC)

3 CE credit hours
Eligible until Jan 19th, 2027
This course has been approved by CE Learning Systems, service provider of Impact CE, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #192243, CE Learning Systems is responsible for all aspects of their programming.
More Info
NAADAC Approved Education Provider

Florida Certification Board (FCB)

3 CE credit hours
Eligible until Jan 19th, 2027
Impact CE, a service of CE learning Systems, is approved by the Florida Certification Board (FCB) to offer continuing education programs (Provider # 5069A).
More Info

Missouri Credentialing Board (MCB)

3 CE credit hours
Eligible until Dec 30th, 2026
AddictionCounselorCE is an approved provider of the Missouri Substance Abuse Professional Credentialing Board (Provider #101). AddictionCounselorCE maintains responsibility for this course and its contents.
More Info

New York Education Department Board of Social Work

3 contact hours
Eligible until Jan 19th, 2027
CE Learning Systems, LLC, (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers. Provider #0060.
More Info

New York Education Department Board of Creative Arts Therapy (NYSEDCAT)

3 CE credit hours
Eligible until Jan 19th, 2027
CE Learning Systems (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed creative arts therapists. #CAT-0008
More Info

New York Education Department Board of Mental Health Counseling

3 CE credit hours
Eligible until Jan 19th, 2027
CE Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0072.
More Info

New York Education Department Board of Psychologists

3 CE credit hours
Eligible until Dec 29th, 2026
CE Learning Systems, LLC, (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for psychologists, # PSY-0016.
More Info

New York Education Department Board of Marriage and Family Therapy

3 CE credit hours
Eligible until Jan 19th, 2027
CE Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0045.
More Info

Virginia Certification Board (VCB)

3 CE credit hours
Eligible until Jan 19th, 2027
Virginia Certification Board educational provider # 106
More Info

Event Agenda

Agenda times are listed in US Eastern Time. That is 3 hours later than US Pacific Time. The event starts at 8:00am US Pacific Time.

Part 1 — 11:00 AM–12:30 PM

Welcome, Course Overview & Learning Objectives

  • Why the first session matters
  • Reflection: What makes a first session successful?
  • The Clinical Tasks of the First Session
  • Balancing rapport and information gathering
  • Initial assessment and presenting concerns
  • Client priorities, strengths, and needs
  • Establishing expectations and direction for treatment
  • Building the Therapeutic Alliance
  • Establishing safety and trust
  • Empathy, validation, and authenticity
  • Cultural humility and responsiveness
  • Collaboration and client autonomy
  • Avoiding the “interrogation” feel
  • Case Study #1: The Difficult First Session
  • Guarded or hesitant client
  • Identifying immediate clinical and relational priorities
  • Whole-group discussion of alliance-building strategies
  • Clinical Skills Application
  • Effective first-session questions
  • Pacing assessment and disclosure
  • Collaborative goal setting
  • Transitioning from assessment to treatment


Break — 12:30–12:45 PM


Part 2 — 12:45–2:15 PM

Ethical Foundations of the First Session

  • Informed consent
  • Confidentiality and its limits
  • Professional boundaries and therapist role
  • Communication expectations
  • Documentation and telehealth considerations
  • Assessment, Safety & Clinical Decision-Making
  • Integrating risk and safety assessment
  • Recognizing when additional assessment is needed
  • Balancing safety questions with therapeutic rapport
  • Case Study #2: When the Agenda Changes
  • Client discloses significant concerns during the session
  • Shifting clinical priorities appropriately
  • Whole-group discussion of safety, ethics, and alliance
  • Common First-Session Challenges
  • Excessive questioning or information gathering
  • Premature advice or problem-solving
  • Therapist anxiety and assumptions
  • Cultural mis-attunement
  • Unclear expectations and boundaries
  • Trying to accomplish too much
  • Ending the First Session Well
  • Summarizing and checking understanding
  • Eliciting client feedback
  • Establishing initial goals and next steps
  • Allowing time for questions
  • Integration & Closing Case Challenge
  • Brief case application
  • Review of key clinical, ethical, and relational principles
  • Final reflections and resources discussion

Policies

If a grievance arises pertaining to your participation in our continuing education activities, please contact our support team immediately. See our full grievance policy for more information.

ADA accommodations will be made in accordance with the law; please indicate your special needs when you register by contacting us.

Up to 30 days prior to the event, live event registrations may be canceled for a refund via the current courses tab in your member account. Less than 30 days prior to the event, live event registration purchases are not eligible for a refund, but can be transferred to a different event. Please contact our support team for assistance with changing your registration.

  • This is a live event, hosted via Zoom Webinar. you may be prompted to download or upgrade your Zoom app if using a mobile device. A strong WiFi/internet connection will be required for best quality.

  • We recommend clicking your "Join Webinar" button early and checking that your speakers are on before the event begins. Please do not worry about being seen or heard! Attendee video feeds and mics are turned off by default when entering a webinar. You will be able to ask questions via the Q&A feature. You may test your Zoom connection prior to the event at the Zoom Test page .

  • Please respect that no copying, recording, or distribution of live session content is allowed.

We report all course and event completions to CE Broker. If your licensing board uses CE Broker for CE tracking, please be sure to enter your correct license information in your account.

If you need to cancel your registration for a webinar, please contact our support team for assistance prior to the event. Please note our refund policy, above.

If the activity must be cancelled by the provider, all attendees will receive an email notifying them of the cancellation. The email will also provide details about transferring the registration to another educational activity or receiving a refund of the registration fee. As always, you can contact our support team if you have questions or concerns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Once you register, you'll receive an email with the link and instructions to join the live event. The event will be hosted via Zoom. You may test your Zoom connection prior to the event at the Zoom Test page We recommend logging in 10-15 minutes early to be sure your connection is ready.

Most live events are recorded and made available to registered participants for a limited time after the event. Check your event materials for specific details about recording availability.

Certificates for live events are typically available within shortly after the event concludes, as soon as attendance verification is completed. You'll receive an email notification when your certificate is ready to download.

If the event is recorded, you may be able to access the recording after the live session. Contact support for information about makeup options for your specific event.

If you need to withdraw 30 or more days before the event, you can do this your self from your current courses tab.

Start your CE Journey now - complete your first course today, on us.

Try for free - no commitment required.

Start a Free Trial Course

Continuing Education

Copyright © 2026 CE Learning Systems LLC

Please Confirm