What to Expect in Your First Marriage Counseling Session in Birmingham, AL
Finding the right marriage counselor in Birmingham, AL can be a challenge, but if you’ve made it this far, you’ve likely read through the FAQs, explored your options, and finally scheduled that first appointment.
So… now what?
Here’s what you can expect from your first marriage counseling session at Sparrow Counseling:
You’ll Complete Paperwork Before the First Session
Before your appointment, each of you will receive an intake form designed specifically for marriage and couples counseling. This paperwork gives us an important window into who you are as individuals and as a couple.
We’ll ask about your relationship history, what brought you to therapy, and how you’ve tried to solve problems in the past. Taking time to reflect on your experiences before we meet helps us make the most of our time together.
2. Your First Session Will Be 2 Hours Long
While most sessions at Sparrow Counseling last 55 minutes, we block off two full hours for our initial couples session.
This longer appointment allows us to:
Review policies and expectations
Introduce ourselves and learn more about you
Discuss the structure and flow of future sessions
Begin a thorough history of your relationship
This extended time helps us slow down, listen well, and build a strong foundation for the work ahead.
3. You’ll Begin Setting Goals Together
It’s hard to make progress if you don’t know where you’re going. That’s why one of the first things we’ll do is talk about your goals.
What do you hope will change in your relationship?
What would “success” in counseling look like for you?
As your therapists, our job isn’t to take sides; it’s to help each of you look in the mirror and recognize the patterns you're bringing into the relationship. We’ll guide you in shifting from blame to responsibility, from defensiveness to curiosity, and from stuck to moving forward, together.
4. You’ll Reflect on What You’ve Already Tried
Many couples walk into the first session feeling exhausted and hopeless. They’ve already tried talking, reading books, and going on date nights, but nothing has worked.
That’s okay. You don’t have to start from scratch.
Together, we’ll look at what has and hasn’t helped so far, and why. From there, we’ll introduce new tools and frameworks to help you move toward more connection, empathy, and trust. Counseling isn’t about fixing each other—it’s about learning to care for one another in deeper, more meaningful ways.
Ready to Get Started?
Follow these three simple steps:
Reach out to Sparrow Counseling for a free 15-minute consultation.
Learn more about our caring, experienced marriage counselors.
Begin healing your relationship with support.
Other Services Offered at Sparrow Counseling
At Sparrow Counseling we offer in-person and online therapy in the state of Alabama. In addition to couples retreats, our team specializes in pre-engagement and premarital counseling, couples intensives, teen counseling, family therapy, co-parenting counseling, blended family counseling, discernment counseling, and more in Birmingham, Alabama. Learn more by checking out our FAQs and Blog!
