The First Kiss: Undoing the Intake Model and Igniting First Sessions in Psychotherapy

Drawing on meta-analytic studies & comprehensive data about what creates good outcomes in psychotherapy, this gem of a book provides an overview of what really helps therapists help clients improve - by making the client’s experience central to the process. Chow helps us understand the importance of getting routine client feedback starting from the first session, engendering hope and expectation for change, and establishing goal consensus by keeping the client’s perspective of their work with us primary. He demonstrates how this increases the likelihood of clients returning after that first session so we can continue discussions about their rating of their outcomes as a result of their work and their relationship with us.Chow provides a handy pocket guide for therapists to ensure clients get what they want from therapy, while at the same time improving client and therapist real-world functioning in individual, relational, social and (secular) spiritual domains. This down-to-earth book provides numerous practical forms (it’s not a model) for therapists at any stage of development to learn how to use Routine Outcome Monitoring (ROM) combined with the principles of Deliberate Practice (DP). He clearly shows how therapists must let each client steer their own therapy & life, by helping them be active agents inside & outside of therapy.Vivian Baruch M. Couns

I really appreciate how Dr Chow offers different ways of conceptualizing and implementing some general goals of supervision related to first session, but also broader ideas for supporting clinicians in supervision. I appreciate his non-model approach that looks at outcome or mechanisms of change rather than some particular technique! In a therapy world where many psychologists seem to want to create and monetize a model, this is so refreshing and, in my opinion, so much more helpful. Definitely recommend whether you are a new or seasoned supervisor.

This is a great book for those who are new in the profession as well. I like the fact that I was able to read half of the book in a few hours and will be using so many tips and recommendations for my first session. It reminds me of the gift of therapy by Yalom, which is short chapters and straight to the point. I am glad I purchased it!

I have been working in private practice for about five years and thought I had the intake process down. I knew what I was doing. I was smooth. At least, I thought I was. Then, I received a review on a booking site after an initial session about how I didn't ask the right questions and lacked empathy. Ouch. I purchased The First Kiss three years ago but never got around to reading it. After that review, I devoured it in just a few hours. It was easy to read and had a lot of good information. It even discussed how to ask for and receive negative feedback, which I really appreciated. This book contains information on how to structure the intake, ask questions, show empathy, solicit feedback, and rate the experience. I would recommend it to therapists, new and old. None of us are perfect. There are always improvements to be made. This book is a great start.

Loved this book, so glad that I read it before I started working at a private practice!

I have been a therapist for 15 years and was recommended this book by a colleague. I love the idea of changing the intake model, and Dr. Chow's concise and common sense approach was just what I needed to get started on this process. Thank you to Dr. Chow and for therapists and graduate students alike, I highly recommend it!

Thanks for making the audio version of your book free right now. This book provides awesome tips that I will use with my client. I really appreciate the practical information in this book about now just why I might do XYZ, but how I might integrate XYZ. There are heaps of practical solutions that I will integrate with my clients in my own deliberate practice. The first one is keeping a sense of 'play' and being open to flexibility, not so bogged down by my own theory (which then makes it about me!). Yes, heaps of stuff, and I will need to write them down, thanks

This book can be a career changer and a definite must for those who are serious about improving as a counselor. Daryl teaches us how to really engage clients up front and explains why this is so important to getting return appointments and to really make a difference. I've used many of the principles I've learned in this in the past few weeks and feel like it has made a huge difference. I really appreciated the idea from Chapter 11 on giving something to the client that represents what we learned or accomplished in that session. Knowing I want to do this has focused me in my session. Clients seem to really like the take away also. I've purchased 10 more copies to give to counselors who I respect and know are passionate about being effective.

This book contains about 50 short chapters, each dealing with a little idea about what to do to create momentum in the first session of therapy and counseling and how to keep learning and practicing (deep practice) as a therapist.I found the book easy to read, you can jump between chapters easily, as each chapter contains a reference to related chapters. The book can also be easily used as a reference along the way.

I just finished my Masters Degree in Germany and one of my teachers recommended this book. He said: "If you want to read something before starting your work as a therapist collecting your clinical hours that's what you should read". I really liked the book! It offers important ideas and i feel much more prepared for working with clients than after revising theories I learned at university. It helped me find a way a want to work with clients, a therapeutic attitude. It also encouraged me to ask for feedback, record my sessions etc.Im glad I read it before starting with clients!! :)

Content is great but if you’re looking for a proper English book, the one I received starts at the back and reads backwards like Chinese books do?! Wasn’t expecting that. Still readable but super strange if you’re not used to it or have never read a book back to front before. I’m trying to embrace learning something new while embracing the way a different culture does things but interesting & frustrating at times nonetheless.

The author does an excellent job of identifying and exploring many ways to make a first session impactful, well targeted and likely to keep clients coming back. The section on how to elicit and utilise client feedback to improve treatment and grow the skills of the clinician are invaluable.

Good reminder that the first session should offer understanding as well as options for change not just an information gathering exercise which some work places demand.