Just be real, with yourself and him/her...

Yes write stuff down you want to ask so you don't forget

It definitely can't hurt to take some notes in with you. At the very least it can help you to remember to ask all of your questions (I normally walk away from a doctors office and smack myself because I've forgotten to ask about 10 questions and/or mention a few symptoms).

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Now, about the economics of it all (this is VERY important -- you don't want your treatment to cause financial anguish). (I'm gonna assume you're a member of a medical scheme?):

Most South African schemes pay for your visits out of you're day-to-day benefits. This means you're savings account will be drained first. When you approach your self-payment gap you need to act. ALL South African schemes cover psychotherapy as a treatment for certain conditions under what is called Prescribed Minimum Benefits. If you have a formal diagnosis of major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder, the therapist can apply for up to 12 sessions over what remains of the calender year. You will not be liable for these sessions. The application is usually approved. Once you've used up those 12, they can apply for an additional few (6, I think. Could be 8). These will again be paid out of your day-to-day benefits. At this point you'll either still be in you self-payment gap, or you would have reached your above-threshold limit beyond which they will again start covering the costs. Whatever the case, it's always better to have it go through the medical aid so you can either get out of the gap as fast as possible, or so you can exploit the above threshold benefits.

On the other hand, you can apply for the 12 sessions at the outset, which means your savings account won't be touched. BUT it will probably be bled dry by other medical expenses -- GP visits, non-chronic meds, physio consultations, eye stuff etc. -- anyway. For the average person it's 6 of the one, or half a dozen of the other

Also take into account that if you end up having to see a psychiatrist, those 12 + 6 (or whatever) sessions get split up between the therapist and the doctor. And if the psychiatrist prescribes anything, MAKE SURE HE APPLIES FOR CHRONIC MEDS BENEFITS. The scheme will cover those as well and it won't affect your day-to-days. The drugs are FUCKING expensive, and you don't want to get stuck with the bills.

Lastly, good luck!

Thank you very much for all the feedback. I'm glad you all responded because now others can draw on your answers to help them. I am happy to report that the appointment went well. It is too early to tell if she is the right therapist for me but from what I saw today, she very well might be so all in all, I feel good about today and I am semi-confident she will help me. I'm going to leave it until about the sixth appointment before I decide whether she is the therapist I need or not. Also, there was no mention of drugs or anything like that. I was myself all the way through and even cried a bit.