Define your goals. Write down what you would like to have accomplished for each session or for your overall counseling experience. 2. Be an active participant. Be honest and open about what is concerning you. These sessions are about you, so be active in deciding how to use your time effectively. 3. Be patient with yourself. Growth and change take time; allow them to happen. 4. Follow your provider’s recommendations. Throughout the process, you will receive suggestions of things to consider, skills to practice, or homework assignments. These are designed to continue your growth process. Growth does not happen in the time you meet with your counselor, it happens in the time in between sessions, in your daily life.