The first session

Before anything is booked, we have a free consultation call.

On the call I will ask what has brought you to therapy, and whether you have had therapy before. If you have, I will ask what type it was and roughly how many sessions. Then I will explain how I work, and how we move forward if you would like to carry on.

There is no obligation at the end of it. It is as much for you to get a sense of me as the other way around.

If you decide to go ahead, the first full session is an initial assessment. It runs for the same length as an ordinary session and there is nothing to prepare.

It is a chance for you to tell me what has brought you here and what you are finding difficult at the moment. I will usually ask about your background and family history, so that I understand the context you are coming from rather than only the present difficulty.

Some of that may be territory you have not spoken about before. You set the pace, and you do not have to answer anything you are not ready to answer.

Part of the purpose is practical. It is an opportunity for both of us to get a sense of whether working together will be safe and useful.

After the consultation call, if you would like to continue, send me an email saying so and I will send you a booking link for your initial assessment.

After the assessment, if we are both happy to continue, I will send a booking link for you to book a weekly slot. If you would like to change slots later, we can have a conversation about what I have available.