What to expect in your first counseling session

Reaching out to a therapist takes courage. If you’re reading this because you’re thinking about it, I want to make the first step feel a little less uncertain.

It starts with a free 15-minute call

Before anything else, we talk for 15 minutes. You can tell me a little about what’s going on, ask anything you want to know, and get a sense of whether I feel like the right person for you. There’s no commitment. If I’m not the right fit, I’ll help you think about who might be.

In the first session

We go at your pace. I’ll ask about what brings you in, a bit about your history, and what you’d like to be different. Some people come in with a lot to say. Some people sit down and say, “I don’t even know where to start.” Both are completely okay.

You don’t need the right words to start.

What you won’t be asked to do is relive every detail of the hardest things you’ve been through. Safety comes first: in the room, in our relationship, and in your body. We build that before we go anywhere difficult.

What it isn’t

It isn’t a test you can fail. It isn’t a lecture. It isn’t a promise that one session will change everything. Healing takes time, and it looks different for everyone.

A few practical things

You can meet with me in person in Meridian, or by secure video anywhere in Idaho. We’ll talk about fees and insurance in your free consultation, so you know what to expect before your first session.

If you’ve been thinking about starting, this might be your sign. We can begin wherever you are.