Starting Therapy: What to Expect
Beginning therapy can carry a lot of unnecessary uncertainty.
This page exists to reduce that.
My work is not based on mystique, emotional pressure, or performance.
It’s grounded, practical, and paced according to your nervous system.
Here’s what to expect.
Before your first session
You don’t need to prepare emotionally or organise your life story.
What matters most:
a quiet, private space
enough time to be present without rushing
a willingness to notice, rather than analyse yourself
If it helps, you can briefly reflect on:
key facts from your history
what brings you to therapy at this point in your life
what feels most costly or unsustainable right now
You don’t need clarity, that’s part of the work.
During the first session
The first session is an orientation.
We are not trying to:
fix you
diagnose you
push insight
relive your past
We are beginning to understand:
how your nervous system has adapted
what patterns are stabilising or limiting your life
what pace of work is appropriate for you
You control what you share.
There is no expectation to disclose more than feels right.
After the session
People respond differently:
some feel clearer
some feel tired
some feel unchanged at first
All of this is normal.
Effective therapy doesn’t rely on emotional intensity.
It relies on consistency, capacity, and precision over time.
One important thing
This work is not about adding more strategies, tasks, or pressure.
It’s about reducing what your nervous system has been carrying, so change becomes possible without force.