First session
What actually happens the first time
Most people are more nervous about the first appointment than about anything that comes after it. Knowing what the hour looks like takes some of that away.
Before you come
You message me on WhatsApp or call. Tell me roughly what is going on, in as much or as little detail as you want, and when you tend to be free. I will give you a time. The address in Crossings Republik is shared once the time is fixed.
The hour itself
I listen. I will ask what brought you here now rather than six months ago, what has been happening, how it is affecting sleep, work, the people around you. If a question is one you would rather not answer, say so and we move on.
Towards the end we usually talk about what you would like to be different, and whether it makes sense to meet again. There is no pressure to decide in the room.
What you do not have to do
You do not have to arrive with a diagnosis, a list, or the right vocabulary. You do not have to cry, and you do not have to hold it together either. You do not have to tell me everything on the first day. Some things take a few weeks before there is enough trust to say them, and that is normal.
Privacy
What you say in the room stays in the room. The exception, and it is the standard one, is a serious risk of harm to you or to someone else. Even then, I will talk to you about it first wherever that is possible.
For adolescents, I explain at the start what will and will not be shared with parents, so that everyone knows where they stand.
Afterwards
People often feel tired after a first session, and sometimes lighter. Both are normal. If you decide to continue, we usually meet weekly to begin with, and space sessions out as things settle. If you decide not to continue, that is a fine outcome too.
When you are ready to book
A message with a line about what is going on and your free times is all it takes.