First Session

Welcome!

If you have never been in therapy before, you may be surprised by how comfortable (and even enjoyable!) this experience can be. If you have been in therapy before, I hope to show you a truly individualized and client-centered experience that deepens and strengthens the work you have begun.

When starting therapy, either for the first time or resuming your work with a new provider, it is common to wonder what the sessions will be like and what to expect from the process. I encourage you to ask questions and share any hesitations, fears, or doubts about therapy. My goal is to provide a safe, welcoming environment for you to face the beliefs and behaviors that have been holding you back.

You can expect…

Our work together to be collaborative. You are the most important part of this team.
To be respected, appreciated, and heard.
A space free from judgment, for you to explore your thoughts, feelings, and values.
A soothing welcome to the office. The office space is designed to be comfortable and calming.
Emphasis on protecting your privacy and fostering confidentiality. No busy waiting room or doctor’s office setup.
Comprehensive care. I communicate with other providers as needed to ensure your medical, nutritional, and mental health needs are being met simultaneously.

Deciding to begin your therapy journey

The first steps to beginning therapy are often the hardest to take. It is common for people to question if therapy can actually help them, and what to look for when deciding on a therapist. The most important thing to remember is that you are not alone. Therapy allows a space for you to explore (and often times normalize) the worries that you have, I offer free initial phone consultations to new patients to answer any questions you may have about the course of therapy and determine if my approach and expertise is a good fit for your needs.

Your first appointment

Your first session will be different than most. When scheduling your first session, it is best if you find a time that allows for a short space before and after the appointment, so that you are able to fully focus on yourself during this time, and won’t be distracted by life’s demands. During this session, I’ll be asking a lot of questions and trying to gather as much information about your background, current struggles, and what you hope to gain out of treatment. In follow-up sessions, we will take time to thoroughly discuss your areas of concern, so consider this initial session as intended to provide an outline that will provide helpful and relevant information for treatment planning.

How to prepare/What to bring

Allow yourself a few moments to reflect before and after session. It may be helpful to write down key words, goals, or questions that you have, to make sure we don’t forget anything. Additionally, there will be new patient paperwork that you will need to fill out prior to us meeting. These documents can be found in the Resources section of my website (or by clicking the link below). Many people find to helpful to save time and complete the paperwork prior to coming in for session. To protect your privacy and confidentiality, please do not email the completed forms to me. If you are not able to review them beforehand, please allow for 10-15 minutes before your appointment time to complete. We will go over the consent forms and treatment expectations together at the beginning of your first session, and this will be an opportunity for you to ask any questions you have regarding treatment.

It is also helpful to bring with you phone numbers, email addresses, or contact information for anyone involved in your care or your life that I may need to speak to. Your participation in therapy is held confidential and I can only acknowledge working with you, and obtain or provide information to someone you authorize me to speak to. A “Release of Information” will need to be filled out for each person that you would like me to be able to have contact with. You can modify the authorization at any time, and can also add authorized contacts as therapy progresses.

Getting here

Convenient, Comfortable, and Confidential

My practice is located at The Psychology Group in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.