WHAT TO EXPECT IN THERAPY
Therapy works best when you know what you’re walking into.
This page covers what to expect before, during, and after your first session—so you can show up ready to begin.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Getting Started
Whether you’re seeking therapy for the first time, looking for a new therapist, wanting to start therapy again after a break, or if you’ve tried therapy before, and it didn’t work out how you expected—welcome! Starting therapy can be both exciting and anxiety-provoking, so I hope this page will help you know what to expect.
Before Your First Session
Schedule a free 10-minute intro call using the link at the top of the page. This is a low-stakes conversation—a chance to ask questions and get a sense of whether my approach feels like a good fit for what you’re looking for. If we decide to move forward, I'll send you a portal link to complete intake paperwork and consent forms before your first appointment.
When You Arrive
My office is at The Mindfulness Center in Lyndon (Louisville). Come on into the waiting area—there’s no receptionist, so no need to check in. There’s a restroom near the bookshelf in the back. I’ll come down to get you at your appointment time.
For virtual sessions, your appointment reminder includes a link to the waiting room of my HIPAA-compliant video platform. I’ll let you in at your appointment time. Please have a photo ID nearby for your first virtual session.
Your First Session
We will start by reviewing your intake paperwork together, and I will share a bit about how I work. Then I will invite you to share what brought you in and what you’re hoping to get from therapy. There’s no pressure to have it all organized—if you’re not sure where to start, I’ll ask questions along the way.
By the end of the first session, we will have a clearer picture of your goals and a rough sense of how we might work toward them. We’ll schedule your next appointment before you leave.
Ongoing Work
Most clients start with weekly sessions. After a few sessions, some people stay weekly and others shift to bi-weekly—we will figure out what works for you and revisit it as we go.
Between sessions, I will sometimes suggest practices or things to try: a mindfulness exercise, something to notice, a resource to read or listen to. These between-session practices are invitations, not requirements.
At any point, if something isn't working—the pace, the approach, anything—please say so. Your feedback makes the work better.
WHAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARD
Together, we will…
Clarify your values and what matters to you at this point in your life
Increase self-compassion—especially toward the parts of yourself that developed as survival strategies
Process trauma that feels ready to find some movement
Untangle the patterns and stories that keep pulling you back
Develop new perspectives that open up new choices
Discern what boundaries feel right in your relationships
Build capacity to regulate your nervous system when things get hard
Celebrate the times you showed up exactly how you wanted to—held a boundary, felt authentic, were kind to yourself, or just felt good in your own skin
Confront the times you wanted to show up differently—honestly, without shame, and with a plan for next time