Getting Ready For Your First Session

Taking 30 minutes before session to get prepared for your initial session helps the session to move smoothly and makes the most of a brief session. Offering some recommendations and support for our initial session and moving forward.

1.Privacy: you need a private, confidential space for teletherapy sessions. (Privacy / HIPPA : https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/index.html).

2. Make sure you have internet connection and have permissions set on your internet browser so that a session can begin at your start time. Please initiate venmo payment, as this will be my "knock on the door" to know it is OK to come into the session.

3. Have a one-liner explaining what you're looking to accomplish. In an initial session and during a brief session, it is not the place to immediately pour out your trauma, but specificity is critical. You should go into your first session, clearly stating what you want to address. For example, "Hi, my name is ____, and I'm currently looking for help with _____" is a great place to start. If you find yourself struggling, take the time to self-evaluate where you are right now.

4. Write down a broad overview of how the week went in 1 to 2 sentences. How did you feel? How did you cope? Any major stressors, crises, or challenges? Any celebrations, successes, or victories?

5.Make an agenda for the therapy session. Write down 1 to 3 problems you ran into recently that you need help resolving, symptoms you want to learn how to cope with, or skills you want to learn.