Starting Therapy in Dorset: What to Expect, What It Costs, and How to Choose the Right Fit

Ian Smith
6 days ago
3 min read

Sat outside in the car, checking the address again, wondering if you've actually got the right building. That's how a lot of people describe the ten minutes before their first session. Maybe that's you right now. Maybe you've been circling this page for weeks without booking anything.

Reviewed by Ian Smith, BSc (Hons), BACP (Accredited)

Either way, you probably want the same three answers everyone wants before they'll commit to anything: what actually happens once you're in the room, what kind of therapy you'll get, and what it's going to cost. Fair enough. Here they are, properly.

We offer counselling in Wimborne, Poundbury and Poole, plus online sessions if none of those locations work for you.

What Actually Happens in a First Session?

Not much is expected of you beyond showing up. You won't be asked to explain your whole life story in order, and there's no test to pass. Your therapist wants to get a sense of what's brought you in, and you get to work out whether they feel like the right fit. Neither of you is committing to anything beyond that hour.

There's a short contract to sign covering confidentiality and how sessions work — more for your protection than anyone else's. Plenty of people leave their first session feeling like they barely scratched the surface. That's normal. It's a start, not an interview.

What Are the Different Types of Therapy?

Most talking therapy comes down to two main approaches, and a lot of therapists, ours included, blend both depending on what someone actually needs.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) — structured, practical, focused on specific patterns of thought and behaviour. Good if you want tools and something that feels like progress you can measure.
Person-centred counselling — no fixed agenda. You lead, your therapist listens and reflects back. Good if you want space to think out loud without being steered somewhere.
Integrative therapy — a mix of both, adjusted session to session rather than locked to one method.

You genuinely don't need to pick the right one before you book. Tell us what's going on and we'll work out the fit together.

How Do I Choose the Right Fit?

Think about what you actually want — practical tools, or somewhere to talk things through.
Work out what fits your week — in person in Wimborne, Poundbury or Poole, or online.
Ask about experience with your specific situation. It's a fair question, and a good sign if the answer's straightforward.
Trust how it actually feels more than which approach it's labelled as.

And it's fine to try a few sessions and change your mind. Nobody's locked in.

What Does Therapy Cost at Wellbeing Practice?

Fees run from £30 to £75+, depending on your therapist's experience, and there's a concessionary rate if you need it. We'd rather flex the price than turn someone away.

Partner-level therapist — £75+ per session
Senior therapist — £60–£70 per session
Experienced therapist — £50–£60 per session
Concessionary (limited spaces) — £30–£45 per session

For comparison: NHS therapy is free but usually means a wait and a GP referral first. Private therapy tends to start sooner. Some health insurance covers it too. Worth asking us outright about cost — we'd genuinely rather talk about what's manageable than have money be the reason you don't come.

Does It Actually Help?

Honestly, it's rarely about feeling instantly fixed. More often it's building up some resilience for the harder weeks, finding words for what you're actually feeling, and not carrying it entirely alone anymore. Whatever's brought you here — anxiety, low mood, stress, grief, something you can't quite name yet — the work gets built around you, not a script we run through with everyone.

Taking the First Step

Feeling nervous about a first session doesn't mean you're not ready. It's just about the most normal reaction there is. Our therapists are BACP and NCPS accredited, so there's real supervision and accountability behind every session, not just a nice website.

Ready, or just want to ask something first? Get in touch. No pressure, no jargon.

A Few Common Questions

Do I need to know exactly what's wrong before I book?

No. Most people turn up with a general sense that something's off, and that's plenty to start with.

What's the practical difference between CBT and counselling?

CBT is structured, with specific tools and often something to try between sessions. Counselling has no fixed agenda — you lead, the therapist listens. Most people end up somewhere in between.