Starting Therapy- What to Expect

Scheduling a First Appointment: 
For many people scheduling a first therapy appointment can be intimidating.  To help ease the process, your first step will be to contact me.  You can use the contact function through this website or use e-mail.  In your message, let me know a little bit about what brings you to me right now, so that I can tell you more about whether my practice is a good fit for your specific issues and concerns.  If it seems likely we will be a good fit for each other, I will send you some paperwork to complete through my secure client portal.  Once I've reviewed this completed paperwork I'll schedule your first appointment.  

Verifying your Insurance Benefits: 
Prior to your first appointment, you will want to contact your insurance provider and confirm your insurance benefits (if applicable).   The easiest way to do this is to use your insurance company's website or call the member services number on the back of your insurance card.  

Some questions to ask your insurance company include:
(a) whether I am a covered (in-network) provider under your plan 
(b) if you have a deductible for outpatient mental health services
(c) what your co-insurance or co-payment amounts will be for outpatient mental health services
(d) if there are any other limits for outpatient mental health services (e.g., session limitations, need for prior-authorization, or referral).  

If the terms "Deductible", "Co-Pay" or "Co-Insurance" are confusing this video may help.  

 Your First Appointment (Intake): 
  • Prior to your first therapy appointment, you will have completed new client paperwork.  
  • If you are having your first appointment via telehealth, you will need a computer or smartphone, a private area, and a good internet connection.  Click the Telehealth FAQ button for more information on how this telehealth platform works.  ​ 
  • Please bring with you to your first appointment your insurance card (if using insurance) and a photo ID.
What to Expect:
In your first session we will spend about 50-60 minutes together and discuss what concerns brought you to therapy, your goals, current symptoms, and important personal history.  I believe this session is an important time for us to get to know each other, and for me to begin to understand how your current life is shaped by your history and your current situation.  In this session, I am listening for important information that will help us plan your treatment.

​At the end of the first session (or sometimes the first two or three sessions),  we will decide together on a plan and goals for treatment, which we will check-in about periodically throughout our work together.  

I look forward to working with you.