at a glance
Length: About one hour
Frequency: Weekly to start; adjust as you go
Format: Online through a secure platform
Location: Couch, car, back porch — wherever you are
Housekeeping: A brief review of confidentiality, policies, and how therapy works.
Preparation: None. You are already the expert on you
What is a Session?
A session is…
A conversation where you get to be fully yourself.
Not the version of you that has to hold everything together. Not the version that makes everyone else comfortable. Just you.
A place where you don’t have to manage anyone else’s feelings.
You don’t have to protect a partner, reassure a parent, or explain yourself to someone who has known you for years and only sees the person you’ve always been.
A space where your feelings are welcome.
There is room for grief, frustration, uncertainty, hope, and everything in between. No judgment. No pressure to have it all figured out.
The First Session
Our first session is mostly about getting acquainted.
It sets the stage for future sessions.
It is not a test, an interview, or an attempt to uncover everything that has ever happened to you.
You can share as little or as much of your story as you want. What you hope might feel different.
It’s just the first step.
01. Before Your Session
We’ll send your intake and consent forms through our secure client portal before the session.
Complete as much as you can ahead of time. The forms give us some background and explain important information about therapy, privacy, fees, and practice policies.
For the appointment, find a private place with a reliable internet connection. You’ll receive a secure link to join the session.
You can bring coffee, tissues, a pet, or anything else that helps you feel comfortable.
You do not need to prepare what you are going to say.
02. We’ll Begin With a Little Housekeeping
Before we begin talking about what brought you in, we’ll briefly review the practical parts of working together.
You will already have all the information in writing. Don’t worry, we won’t spend the session reading policies to you, just highlight what is most important, explain anything that feels confusing, and answer your questions.
03. Then We’ll Get to Know You
It takes courage to tell someone that life has become difficult, confusing, painful, or simply different from what you hoped it would be.
We won’t rush you. We won’t expect you to have everything figured out.
You can share as much or as little as feels comfortable. You don’t need a perfectly organized explanation, a clear goal, or the right words before you arrive.
And if all you can say is, “I’m not sure where to start,” that’s okay.
We can start there.
04. Before We Finish
Near the end of the session, we’ll slow down and talk about what stood out.
We may begin identifying what you want from therapy, what seems most important to focus on, and what working together could look like.
You’ll have another chance to ask questions or tell us how the session felt.
If you would like to continue and we agree that we are a good fit, we’ll talk about scheduling the next appointment.