First Session Guide
What to Expect in Your First Therapy Session
Starting therapy can feel like walking into a room without knowing the rules. Here is the whole path, from the free consultation through your first appointment and beyond, so nothing about the beginning has to be a surprise.
It Starts With a Free 15-Minute Call
Before anything else, you fill out the contact form with a few lines about what is going on. A few sentences is plenty, and you do not need a diagnosis or a polished explanation. I review your note, you choose a consultation time, and then we talk by phone for about 15 minutes. You tell me what is bringing you in, I tell you honestly whether it is something I work with, and we go through fit, scheduling, cost and format before you commit to anything.
Cost is a fair thing to lead with on that call. Asking about money will not offend me, and it is far better than starting therapy quietly worried about the bill. If you already know you want weekly sessions or an intensive, say so. If you have no idea yet, that is fine too. The consultation exists so you can make the next decision with real information rather than guesswork, and there is no obligation on either side.
The Initial Assessment: 80 Minutes and $275
Your first full appointment is the initial assessment. It lasts 80 minutes and costs $275 for every service, whether you come on your own, as a couple or as a family. The longer time is there so neither of us has to rush. We cover history, context and what you want to be different. I will ask questions, but you set the depth of your answers, and "I would rather not get into that yet" is always a complete answer. Here is roughly what we talk through:
- What has been hardest lately, in your own words
- History and context, at whatever depth you choose
- What you want to be different
- What feels steady in your life right now
- Which format and rhythm might suit you
You Do Not Have to Tell the Worst of It
There is no requirement to go into the worst details early. If you are carrying trauma, you might be dreading a first session where you relive everything in front of a stranger. That is not how this works. Avoidance is often what kept things manageable, sometimes for years, and it deserves respect rather than a lecture. We start with what is happening now and establish safety and stability before we go anywhere difficult. Trauma work does not depend on retelling everything, and you can say no to a topic and nothing bad happens.
I am also not a therapist who only nods. If I notice a pattern, even early on, I will name it, kindly and clearly. That is part of being warm and direct at the same time. Safety comes before breakthrough, so naming something never means pushing you into it. My hope is that you leave the first appointment with a clearer sense of how I work and whether it suits you.
Choosing How We Meet
How you meet is part of the work, not an administrative detail. In-person sessions are at 5900 Southwest Pkwy, Building 5, Suite 230, in Southwest Austin, on Fridays and some select other times and days as schedules allow. Friday appointments fill first, so it is worth asking early. Walk-and-talk sessions take place outdoors, side by side on a quiet route, and we discuss the limits of confidentiality in detail before the first walk. Telehealth is secure video from anywhere in Texas, as long as you are located in Texas during the session. Sessions are available in English or Spanish, and you can mix formats week to week as life and weather allow.
Weekly Sessions or an Intensive
After the assessment, we choose a rhythm together. Weekly sessions run 50 to 80 minutes: individual sessions are $190 for 50 minutes or $275 for 80 minutes, couples sessions are $215 for 50 minutes or $300 for 80 minutes, and family sessions are $275 for 80 minutes. An intensive is concentrated therapy over one to three days, with breaks and pacing built in, for eating disorder, trauma or family work. Neither format is better. If you are weighing the two, weekly therapy or an intensive walks through the differences, and every fee is on the rates page.
How Progress and Endings Are Discussed
Therapy is rarely a straight line. Some weeks are heavy, some are practical, and some are just steady. Along the way we review progress openly, so you are never left guessing whether the work is going anywhere, and you are welcome to raise that question yourself at any time. If the pace or the format stops fitting, saying so is part of the work rather than a complaint, and we adjust together. The goal is that you do not need me indefinitely. We talk plainly about what finishing looks like, and the door stays open if life brings you back.
Practical Details Worth Knowing
Payment is due at the time of service, since this is a self-pay practice. Monthly superbills are available if you want to seek out-of-network reimbursement, and using superbills and out-of-network benefits explains how that works. Changes need at least 24 hours' notice, though there is no charge if a shorter-notice slot can be filled or you move to another time the same day, and a phone appointment may be an option. A sliding scale between $90 and $190 has a limited number of spots.
Common Questions
Do I need to prepare anything for the first session?
No. You do not need a diagnosis or a polished explanation. It can help to think about what you want to be different, but we can work that out together.
How much is the first appointment?
Every service begins with an 80-minute initial assessment at $275. After that, individual sessions are $190 for 50 minutes or $275 for 80 minutes, and couples and family rates are listed on the rates page.
Will I have to talk about my trauma right away?
No. There is no requirement to go into the worst details early. We establish safety and stability first, and you decide when you are ready to go further.
What if I need to cancel?
Please give at least 24 hours' notice. If less notice is possible but the slot can be filled, or you reschedule for another time that same day, there is no charge. No-shows and late cancellations whose slot cannot be filled are charged the full session fee.
Continue Exploring
The consultation is free and there is no obligation on either side.
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