Reaching Out By Email

Most people begin by sending a short email. You don’t have to write everything out or explain every detail. A simple message like, “I’m considering starting therapy. Do you have availability?”, is more than enough. From there, I’ll reply with information about scheduling a brief consultation call.

The Consultation Call

This video call is through Google Meets and is usually 15-20 minutes. It isn’t therapy. It’s more of a check-in to see if working together makes sense. This is a chance for you to ask questions and feel out whether this feels like a good fit. You don’t have to decide anything at this point. It’s just a conversation. Many people say this call reduces anxiety because it directly confronts the barriers that prevent many people from seeking therapy.

We’ll talk about:

• What’s bringing you in

• What you’re hoping to get support with

• My approach and the general flow of sessions

• Logistics like scheduling and payment

• Any questions you have

If money feels like a stress point right now, please know you can mention it. I do keep a limited number of reduced-fee spots available and together, we can explore what’s possible together.

Intake Paperwork

So you’ve decided we’re an amazing fit and you want to move forward!

I’ll send you a couple of documents through a secure online system. These documents include a basic consent and privacy form explaining my services. The second form is about you, which includes some history questions such as previous therapy experiences, current stressors, and anything important to know about your background. This brief history helps me to understand context and how to support you in the safest, most respectful way.

The intake Session (First Full Session)

Your first session is different from a regular weekly session. The focus of this session is in building connection, understanding what’s been happening for you, and beginning to identify what direction we might move forward. There’s no pressure to tell every detail at this time. We move at a pace that feels natural for you. We’re just getting to know each other and building trust.

Creating Initial Therapy Goals Together

Goals for therapy will be highly individualized and as unique as you are. Some common goals include:

• I want to feel less overwhelmed

• I want to understand why this keeps happening

• I want to feel more grounded

• I want to communicate more calmly and clearly

We’ll shape these goals over time and not all in one day. Goals give us direction, but they are flexible and can shift as we grow. It’s not uncommon to start therapy with a particular set of goals, only to discover that the root of the issue is something else entirely. We’ll adapt this process to suit your changing needs and we’ll reevaluate these goals from time to time.

Moving Forward

If you’ve been considering therapy, I hope this information gives you the peace needed to take that first step, to write that email. It’s not easy, but it doesn’t need to be complicated or mysterious. Everyone has their own reasons for hesitation and a consultation call might be what you need to overcome your own barriers. I encourage you to take that step today and see if therapy is right for you.