How to Start Therapy
Starting therapy can be intimidating, especially for HSPs. It may be helpful to learn more about what the process is like. This allows you to mentally prepare for your first session and get an idea about what to expect. While every therapy practice is different, there are some common steps that you can expect to do whenever you start working with a new therapist.
Reach out to schedule your first session
At Therapy for Highly Sensitive People, our process begins when you contact us to learn more about our therapy services or to schedule a session. When you want to schedule a session, you will first be asked to fill out a form with some basic questions. This
Some of the questions we ask include:
Your name and contact information.
What time you’d like to come to therapy.
Your preference for which therapist you want to see, if you have one.
The answer to “Please tell us a little about why you want to start therapy services.”
It may feel a little awkward sharing why you’re coming to therapy through this form, but it helps us understand if our practice is a good fit for you. It can also help us determine which therapist at our practice might specialize in what you’re struggling with. Therapy for Highly Sensitive People offers therapy for a lot of circumstances, including:
Once we know more about what you are coming to therapy for, you can schedule your first session with one of our therapists.
At our practice, you may also request to have an initial phone with a therapist before you schedule your first session if you prefer.
Complete Your Intake Paperwork
After you’ve scheduled your first session, we will send you our intake paperwork packet. In this packet, you’ll have some documents to review, some of which will also ask for your signature. You’ll also be asked to fill out our intake questionnaire, which a more in-depth form that asks about you, your history, and why you’re seeking therapy. It can feel intimidating when you first see this form, but it shouldn’t take you too long to complete.
Show up for your first session
The next step is to show up for your first appointment. This' is when your therapy work with your therapist officially begins. In this first appointment, your therapist will discuss some standard policies with you, like confidentiality and cancellation fees. Most of the session, though, will focus on you and what you want to talk about. Your therapist will discuss your short-term and and long-term goals and the most appropriate cadence of sessions to meet your goals. We typically prefer to meet with new clients on a weekly basis to help build momentum in the therapy journey.
Are you looking to start therapy?
Believe it or not, starting therapy is that simple. If you’re looking to get started, you can reach out to schedule an appointment today. You can use this form to fill out your details, as well as let us know which therapist you want to work with and your time and day preferences for an appointment. You may also reach us hello@therapyforhighlysensitivepeople.com or (707) 408-3686 to schedule your first appointment.
