Beginning counseling can feel like an uncomfortable, mysterious, or downright scary step for someone to take. If you are feeling this way, then please feel free to take a few minutes to read about what you can expect from our first session. I hope that by reading the information on this page that you will begin to get a better idea about what counseling is and whether or not it may be for you!

The First Session

During the first session I will start by reviewing information with you about how I intend to preserve your confidentiality while also keeping your safety in mind. It’s normal to feel shy about opening up, so please know that you don’t have to tell me anything you’re not ready to discuss. It may take time for us to build our relationship to the point where you feel like you can confide in me, and that’s okay! This first session is all about getting to know one another. My number one goal in this session is to get to know you and begin hearing your story as you want to tell it. At the end of the session I will ask you what you might like to get out of counseling. You don’t have to have all the details worked out. In fact, we can even figure out the goals together and change them as we move along.

---