Your First Session With Me: What to Expect

So we’ve finished a free phone consultation, agreed we seem like a good fit, and scheduled a first session. Now what?

Before the session

You’ll receive a link to my secure Client Portal where you can view my practice policy documents and complete intake paperwork.

If we’ve scheduled a telehealth session, you’ll receive the video session link prior to our appointment time.

If we’ve scheduled an in-person session, you’ll receive details on my office location, including free parking.

You’ll have completed your intake paperwork at least 4 hours before our first session, which ensures I have enough time to review your paperwork, you’ve agreed to my policies, and we can make great use of our first session.

During the session

In a telehealth session, you’ll use the video session link I’ve provided to join me.

In an in-person session, I’ll meet you in the cozy waiting room and welcome you into my office.

You may ask any questions about the intake documentation, my practice policies, or anything else you want to know.

I’ll ask any questions I have about your paperwork to ensure I know what I need to know in our first session. (We may jump from topic to topic, but this is usually pretty surface-level stuff to clarify what I need to know about your symptoms, what you’ve tried so far, what’s worked, and what hasn’t worked.)

We’ll spend some time talking about your hopes for therapy and how our work together is most likely to succeed.

I’ll provide you with an exercise to practice at home before our second session.

After the session

You’ll practice whatever exercise I’ve provided to you. (Practice is the secret to success!)

We’ll meet again until we agree you’ve met all of your goals for coming to therapy, for as long as we agree to continue working together.