Many people put off seeing a psychologist for months, sometimes years. One of the most common reasons is surprisingly ordinary: they do not know what to expect. Here is how a first session with me works.
Before: a short message
The first step is a message through the form or by email. Two or three sentences about what is on your mind, and whether you would like to meet in person or online, are enough. I reply within one or two working days with a suggested time.
The first 50 minutes
The first session is about getting to know each other. I will ask what brought you, how long the situation has been with you, and what you would like to change. You decide how much you share. There are no wrong answers, and it is fine if you cannot put something into words yet.
At the end I summarise what I heard and suggest how we might continue: how often to meet, roughly how many sessions to plan for, and what to focus on. If I think another specialist (a psychotherapist or psychiatrist, for example) could help you better, I will tell you that too.
Good to know
- You do not have to decide about continuing straight after the first session.
- Everything you share is confidential.
- Feel free to ask me questions as well, about my methods, my experience or the arrangements.
- It is completely normal to feel relieved afterwards, and equally normal to feel tired.
How do you know you are in the right place?
Research consistently shows that the quality of the working relationship is one of the strongest predictors of a good outcome. If after a session or two you feel listened to and safe, that is a good sign. If not, say so. That can become part of the conversation too.
If you have questions before the first session, just write.