What to Expect In Therapy
Whether this is your very first time considering therapy or you’ve spent years in the therapy chair, I’m glad you’re here. Taking the step to explore this process is meaningful—it shows a willingness to invest in yourself, your growth, and your well-being.
It’s normal to feel unsure about what to expect. Many people come in with only what they’ve seen on TV, heard from others, or imagined—and every therapist brings their own style and approach. My goal here is to give you a clear picture of what working together will look like, so you can feel more grounded as we begin.
Below, you’ll find a simple outline of what to expect at each stage: from the consultation call, to our first session, through the ongoing work, and eventually, to a thoughtful closing session when you’re ready.
Consultation Call
The first step often begins when you reach out—either by submitting an inquiry through my website or sending me an email. From there, if you’re ready to schedule, I’ll provide you with next-step details to get started. If you’d prefer, you also have the option to set up a short consultation call. Once we agree on a time, you’ll share your name and phone number so I can reach you directly. At the scheduled time, I’ll call you for a brief conversation (about 15 minutes). This is an opportunity for us to connect, for you to share what’s bringing you to therapy, and for me to explain a bit about my approach. The purpose isn’t to dive into full therapy work yet, but rather to see if we feel like a good fit moving forward. I also encourage people to explore other therapists' websites and schedule a few consultation calls. Finding the right fit is what makes therapy truly meaningful. While I’d love to be that fit for you, if I’m not, I still want you to find the right therapist.
INTROS
We'll take a few moments to exchange pleasantries and introduce ourselves.
OVERVIEW
I’ll explain how the conversation will flow so you know what to expect during this call and after.
QUESTIONS
I’ll invite you to ask any questions before we get started- about the call, therapy process, me or anything else you're curious about.
BACKGROUND
We’ll talk briefly about your history with therapy (if any) and what you’re hoping for this time.
THE WHY
You’ll share what’s currently going on in your life and what led you to seek support.
ABOUT ME
I’ll describe my background, style of therapy, and the techniques I often use.
ASSESSING
We’ll discuss whether it feels like a good match, or I’ll leave you space to think it over.
OPTIONS
I’ll remind you that choosing a therapist is like interviewing for the right fit—you deserve someone who aligns with your needs.
NEXT STEPS
I'll outline what comes next if you move forward: intake paperwork, reviewing policies and getting everything ready.
SCHEDULING
We'll compare availability and schedule our first session for at least a week out to ensure time for intake.
Layout for
Initial Session
The first session lays the groundwork for our work together. We’ll spend time getting to know each other, talking about your history, and exploring what brought you to therapy. I’ll ask questions about past treatment, current concerns, and important areas of your life so I can understand the bigger picture. Together, we’ll identify your goals and set a direction for therapy moving forward. Before we wrap up, we’ll schedule your next appointment and talk through any takeaways for you to carry between sessions.
Building Rapport
We’ll start with a few minutes of conversation to get to know each other and ease into the session. Sometimes this is lighthearted and simple; other times it naturally leads into something meaningful you want to share right away.
Treatment History
I’ll ask about any prior experiences with therapy—whether inpatient, outpatient, or traditional sessions. This helps me understand what worked for you (and what didn’t) in the past.
Presenting Problem
Together we’ll explore what brought you to therapy and why now feels like the right time. This gives us a starting point for our work.
Mental Health &
Family History
We’ll talk briefly about your past diagnoses, medications, and treatment. I’ll also ask about your family history of mental health and the dynamics of your relationships, since these often influence your well-being.
Gathering a Baseline
I’ll check in on things like mood, coping skills, self-care, substance use, and safety concerns. This gives us a starting place to track progress over time.
Biopsychosocial
History
Here we take a broader look at your life—your work, hobbies, friendships, support systems, and anything else you'd like me to know. It helps me understand who you are beyond your struggles.
We’ll identify what you hope to focus on in therapy. Your goals can be as specific or as open-ended as you’d like, and we’ll revisit them as therapy unfolds.
Goals For Therapy
Next Session
Before we finish, we’ll schedule your next appointment. I schedule all sessions on a recurring basis—weekly, every other week, or monthly. If you already have a preference, you can let me know, or we can decide together what feels like the best fit. We’ll also discuss any takeaways or tasks you’d like to focus on between now and then. I’ll provide you with my contact information in case you need to reach out between sessions for scheduling or brief questions.
Layout for Session
Two & Beyond
After the first session, our regular sessions focus on building and strengthening the therapeutic relationship, which is one of the most important parts of therapy. These sessions are a space for you to bring what’s on your mind—whether it’s continuing with long-term goals we’ve set, or addressing something new that’s come up. Together we’ll explore challenges, identify patterns, and build coping strategies in a way that feels collaborative and supportive. Each person’s therapy journey is unique, and our sessions will reflect your priorities and what feels most helpful to you along the way.
Brief Check-In
We’ll start each session by seeing how you’ve been since our last meeting. This could be a quick update, or a chance to bring up anything important that’s come up in the meantime.
Recap or Dive In
I’ll ask whether you’d like a recap of our last session or if you’d rather dive straight into what’s on your mind today. This allows space for both continuity and flexibility.
Session Content
Most of our time will be spent here. We may focus deeply on one theme or shift between multiple stressors and goals, depending on what feels most important for you that day.
Wrap-Up Questions
Toward the end, I’ll check in with a few consistent questions about your safety, mood, symptoms, and treatment goals. We’ll also discuss any reflections, skills, or practices you’d like to focus on between sessions.
Next Session
Before we close, we’ll confirm your next recurring session or adjust it as needed. We’ll also discuss any upcoming events you’d like us to keep in mind, as well as any homework, tasks, or reflections you’d like to focus on between now and then.
Closing Session
Every therapy journey looks different. For some people, therapy lasts only a few sessions and that’s exactly what they need. For others, therapy becomes an ongoing space for growth and maintenance. It’s common to gradually step down in frequency—from weekly, to biweekly, to monthly—as you begin to feel more confident using the tools and strategies we’ve built together. At some point, you may decide you’ve reached a place where you feel ready to continue your journey on your own, and that’s the natural “end game” of therapy.
The closing session is an important step in that process. It gives us the chance to reflect and discuss your plan moving forward. While we may close our regular work together, therapy doesn’t have to be a permanent goodbye. If at any point you’d like to return, you’re always welcome to reach back out. Re-starting therapy is as simple as sending me an email; as long as I have availability, we’ll go through a brief intake process again and pick back up where you left off.
REFLECTION
We’ll begin by checking in, reflecting on how you’re feeling now, and what brought you to this point of wrapping up therapy.
REVIEW
Together we’ll look back at the work we’ve done, highlight the progress you’ve made, and acknowledge the tools and strengths you’ve built.
TRANSITION
We’ll talk about what life may look like moving forward—whether that’s stepping down to less frequent sessions for maintenance or bringing therapy to a close altogether.
CLOSING
This is a chance to honor your journey and bring a sense of completion. We’ll discuss what you want to carry forward into your life outside of therapy.
OPEN DOOR
If you’d like to return at any point, you’re always welcome to reach out. As long as I have availability, we can restart the intake process and pick up the work together again.
