What to Expect From Your First Session at Felt Sense Psychotherapy

Introduction

Starting therapy can feel intimidating, especially if you don’t know what to expect. The first session at Felt Sense Psychotherapy is designed to help you feel informed, safe, and understood. It’s a slower, intentional session where we focus on understanding you — not rushing into fixing anything.

We Start With the Consent Form

During the first session, we will go over the consent form together. This includes:- Confidentiality and its limits- How your personal information is protected- Session fees and cancellation policies- How records are kept- Your rights as a client- What to do if you are in crisis. You will have time to ask any questions. Therapy works best when you understand the process and feel comfortable with it.

Intake Assessment: Understanding Your Story

The first session also includes an intake assessment. This is where we explore:- What is bringing you to therapy right now- Your current challenges and stressors- Your relationships- Your mental health history- Family history- Any past therapy experiences- Your strengths and supports. This is not an interrogation and there are no “right” answers. You can share at your own pace.

Establishing Goals

We will also talk about what you hope to get out of therapy. Some people come with very clear goals, and others just know that something in their life doesn’t feel good and they want that to change. Both are okay.Goals might include:- Improving relationships- Learning emotional regulation- Processing past experiences- Reducing anxiety or depression- Understanding yourself better- Feeling more like yourself again

Getting a Feel for the Work

Felt Sense Psychotherapy focuses not just on talking, but on helping you notice and understand what is happening inside your body and nervous system. Sometimes this looks like slowing down, noticing sensations, emotions, or reactions in the moment, and learning how to work with them instead of against them.

The First Session Is About Building Safety

You do not have to tell your whole life story in one session. The most important part of the first session is that you begin to feel:- Comfortable- Respected- Not rushed- Listened to- Safe enough to come back. Therapy is a relationship, and relationships take time to build.

After the First Session

At the end of the session, we will discuss:- If it feels like a good fit- Recommendations for frequency of sessions- Any questions you have- Booking future appointments if you choose to continue. You are always allowed to decide if the therapist and the approach feel right for you. Fit matters in therapy.