What to Expect in Your First Therapy Session: A Guide for New Clients
Starting therapy can feel both exciting and a little nerve-wracking—especially if you’ve never done it before or grew up in a family or culture where emotions weren’t openly talked about. Whether you're navigating anxiety, burnout, family dynamics, or just feel “off” and can’t explain why, I want you to know: you’re not alone, and you don’t have to figure it out by yourself.
Your first session is all about getting to know you. We’re laying the foundation for your healing—not with judgment or pressure, but with curiosity, care, and clarity.
What We’ll Explore in Our First Session:
We’ll begin by exploring what brought you into therapy. This might be a specific concern, a life transition, or a deeper desire to better understand yourself. You don’t need to have all the words or the full story figured out. Just come as you are—that’s more than enough.
We'll gently explore how your symptoms or struggles have been impacting your life, such as:
Your ability to concentrate or perform at work or school
Feelings of burnout, numbness, or chronic stress
Interpersonal challenges—conflict, people-pleasing, or isolation
Sleep, appetite, or energy changes
Struggles with motivation, hygiene, or daily routines
This gives us a fuller picture—not to pathologize, but to understand your lived experience and begin to connect the dots.
Creating a Game Plan for Therapy
From there, we’ll collaborate on a game plan that aligns with your goals and values. I’ll explain how therapy works, what approaches I draw from (like CBT, DBT, ACT, attachment-focused therapy, and polyvagal theory), and how we can tailor sessions to support your unique needs.
Therapy isn’t about “fixing” you—you’re not broken. It’s about sustainable growth, healing in a way that honors your past while creating space for your future.
What You Won’t Get in the First Session
You won’t be rushed to share everything at once. You won’t be judged for your coping mechanisms. And you definitely won’t get a list of “to-dos” that ignore your emotional reality.
Instead, you’ll be met with warmth, presence, and compassion. We’re in this together.
🦋 What Healing Looks Like
Over time, I’ve seen clients move from:
Survival mode ➝ Thriving
Self-doubt ➝ Self-trust
Feeling stuck ➝ Embodying their most authentic selves
Healing isn’t linear. It takes courage, consistency, and support—but it’s absolutely possible. And I’m here to walk beside you, one courageous act at a time.
💬 Ready to Begin?
If this sounds like the kind of therapy you’ve been hoping for, I invite you to reach out. You deserve a space where you feel seen, heard, and deeply supported. Let’s start this journey—together.
👉 Book a Consultation
