Many people who are interested in engaging in counseling services may not have a full understanding about the process of treatment. People may expect their first session to reflect something which is more in alignment with what is seen on television as opposed to what happens in real life. Usually, the first treatment session consists of an intake assessment which requires the clinician to engage in multiple activities which prevent the client from working on what initially brought them to treatment. As such, many clients do not return to treatment after their intake and far less actually complete treatment. This presentation will identify effective tools to greatly increase the likelihood that a client will resume treatment after the first session. This presentation will identify basic counseling skills which will create therapeutic relationships to engage in difficult counseling work. Finally, this presentation will review potential pitfalls that clinicians may endure which will damage the counseling relationship.