Initial session

The initial session is really a gentle intro to therapy, it's a chance for us to get to know each other and what sessions together might be like. I believe it is important that you find the right therapist for you, so I charge a reduced fee of £20 for your initial session. At the end of your initial session, you might know whether you would like to continue sessions or you may want to take some time to think about it and get back to me if you want to book in a session. I appreciate getting to know somebody can take time, and there is no pressure to know whether the fit is right, if you have a sense you would like to try working together, we can book in a session and regularly review your experience of therapy. Sessions are booked in at the end of each session to give you the choice throughout the process. If you feel the fit isn't right for what you're looking for, or if I feel I may not be able to offer you the best support for what you're looking for, I may be able to suggest other therapists who you can contact or signpost you to directories.

The initial session is a little different to the rest of your sessions. We will go through the contract with important information about confidentiality and the limits to this, and general information about sessions. I will also ask you for your contact details and contact details of an emergency contact and your GP. We can then spend the rest of the session starting to build a picture of what you might be looking for from therapy, whether you would like to work to a set number of sessions or in an open-ended way, and what brings you to therapy. It is also a chance for you to ask any questions you may have.

I appreciate that coming to an initial session can bring up lots of feelings and I welcome you wherever you are at just as you are. I am always ready to listen in your sessions but I will never push you to share, I am happy to begin wherever you would like to begin. There is no one size fits all when it comes to therapy, it is about working together to find what is right for you.

There is no homework but if you're looking for a starting point before your first session, here are some questions you may wish to reflect on:

What brings you to sessions?
What would you like to get out of sessions? Maybe right now, you’re feeling unsure what you would like to get out of sessions, but you’re interested in coming to sessions and giving it a try.
If you imagine yourself at the end of your therapy sessions, what would make you feel “that was worthwhile going to”?
How do you like to express yourself? Is it through talking, images, writing, drawing, journalling, creating mind maps, or something else? Maybe there are particular characters or song lyrics that you relate to? Maybe you feel your feelings in your body, maybe you process more in your thoughts? I appreciate that we all have different processes and I am open to working in a way that's right for you.
What questions do you have at this point? Maybe you don’t feel you have any questions, and that’s absolutely okay. You are always welcome to ask any questions that come up in your sessions.