Initial Session

Your First Session

People usually contact me via SMS text, email, or phone call in the first instance. If I receive a text or an email, I suggest that we schedule a short phone call (at no charge) so that we can discuss why the person wants to come to therapy, what is really bothering them, and how I can be helpful and supportive of them in this time in their lives. If the first contact is by phone call, we have that short discussion at that time. At some point during the introductory call, we schedule an initial 50-minute therapy session and discuss my fee. (However, there is no obligation to attend an initial session.)

During the first session, when we meet face-to-face or via Zoom, we find out whether we feel comfortable talking with one another and working therapeutically together. We look a bit more at what currently might be difficult and bothersome about life. If we do feel comfortable with one another, we make a simple plan about our schedule of work – whether it will be work in the shorter term or longer term. (There is no obligation to attend further sessions, though.) We decide on the regular day and time of our sessions. We discuss the fact that all therapy sessions are charged at my standard rate – and that I ask people to pay me by bank transfer (BACS), each week on the day of their session. We also talk briefly about GDPR, confidentiality, and rescheduling/cancellation issues.