What Your Visit Will Be Like

How do I start?

To get started, give me a call or contact me by email. I will speak with you at no charge to learn a little bit about what is going on and to assess whether what you need is something I could help you and your child with. We will also talk about the business end of things, such as insurance and fees. We’ll set a date and time to meet and I’ll be sure you get the forms and directions that you need.

What happens in the first session?

If your child is 14 or younger, the first session will be with you (the parent or parents), without your child. I’ll take a careful history to learn more about your child and family. I’ll learn about your child’s strengths and about the issue or issues you are coming in for. You’ll help me know what it is you have already tried and what has and hasn’t worked.  By the end of the first session, I will recommend to you what the basic treatment plan will look like: who I’ll meet with, how often, what my approach will be, and how many sessions I think it will take. If your child needs an assessment, we will discuss the details of that work.
If your child is 15 or older, I’ll meet with your teen and you together in the first interview for several minutes. Then, I’ll most likely meet with your teen alone. We’ll have you join us at the end of the session. I’ll have a separate meeting with you some other time to get a developmental history and hear your thoughts.

What happens after that?

For therapy, it often takes two to three sessions for me to complete the assessment phase, although I typically will provide some strategies by the 3rd session. Also, by the end of the 3rd session, we will have determined whether I am the person best able to help your child, and if I’m not, I’ll get you to the right person. If it’s a go, we will solidify the treatment plan and keep going! If you’re coming in for an assessment, we’ll get started at the next meeting.