What to expect in your first session

Everything starts with a short, free conversation. It isn't a session, and there's no paperwork. It's a chance for you to tell me a little about what's going on, ask whatever you want about how I work, and for both of us to get a sense of whether this is a good fit.

You don't need to prepare a summary of your life. A sentence or two about what you'd like to be different is plenty. If it sounds like something else would suit you better, I'll say so.

If we both think it's worth going ahead, you book a 90-minute session. Sessions are booked one at a time, with no package to buy.

After you book, intake paperwork is sent to you directly. It covers the basics: your contact details, an emergency contact, confirmation that you'll be in Florida for sessions, consent to meet by video, fees and the cancellation policy, and the limits of confidentiality. There's nothing to download from the website. Filling it in ahead of time means we can spend the session on you rather than on forms.

The main things to arrange are a private space where you won't be overheard or interrupted, and being physically in Florida at the time of the session. That's a licensing rule. A charged device with a camera and a steady connection covers the rest.

If you want a fuller checklist, including headphones, notifications and what to do afterward, see how to prepare for a telehealth session.

We start by settling in. Checking the connection, making sure you're somewhere private, and a few minutes of ordinary conversation so it doesn't feel like jumping into cold water.

Then we talk about what you want to be different. Not your whole history, just what's in your way and what you'd like instead. Some people arrive knowing exactly. Others have a vague sense that something isn't right. Either works.

Most of the session is the work itself: a direct, conversational exchange focused on how your mind is holding whatever we're working with. It's often lighter than people expect. You stay in the driver's seat, and if something isn't working, we adjust in the room.

Toward the end, we notice together how a specific memory or feeling is sitting differently. Everyone's different, and we can keep working from there if it makes sense. Then we decide what comes next. There's a longer walk-through in how a 90-minute session works.

You won't be asked to relive the details of anything. If there's something you're not ready to talk about, you can say so and leave it there. You can tell me something happened without telling me what it was. That's enough to work with.

You also don't have to perform. There's no right way to be in a first session. Quiet is fine. Nervous is fine. Laughing at inappropriate moments is fine, and it happens more than you'd think.

Try to leave yourself a little space when the session ends. Some people feel lighter. Some feel tired. Some don't notice much until a few days later, when they run into a situation that used to set them off and it lands differently. All of those are normal.

Whether to book another session is up to you, and we'll talk about it before you go. If you're wondering how many sessions this usually takes, the honest answer is in how many sessions will I need?

Each 90-minute session is $225. The practice is private pay, and insurance isn't billed. The cancellation policy and the rest of the details are on the fees page.

Most people are, at least a little. You're about to talk to someone you've barely met about things that matter. It's fine to say so at the start. Saying you're nervous out loud often takes some of the edge off, and it gives me useful information about how to pace things.

It can also help to remember that you can stop at any point. Nothing locks you in. If the first session doesn't feel right, you don't have to book a second one, and no one will chase you about it.

If you've tried therapy before, mention it in the consultation or at the start of the session. A rough outline is enough: what you tried, roughly how long, what helped and what didn't. It changes where we begin, and it means we don't waste time repeating something that already didn't work for you.

People sometimes think of the free consultation as an interview they have to pass. It isn't. You're checking me out as much as I'm getting a sense of what you want help with. Ask about anything: how sessions go, what I'm trained in, what happens if you don't like it, whether I think this approach suits what you're dealing with.

If the answer is that it doesn't, I'll say so plainly, and where I can, I'll point you toward the kind of help that might fit better. A short honest conversation now saves you time and money later.

What should I prepare?

Do I need to know what I want to work on?

What if I get emotional?