--- title: "What to Expect in Your First Therapy Session | Psi Wellness" url: https://psiwellnessinc.com/first-therapy-session description: "What a first therapy session at Psi Wellness looks like, in Tampa or by telehealth: the free consultation, the intake session and how a plan takes shape." lang: en --- Your First Session # What happens in your first therapy session Starting therapy is easier when you know what is coming. Here is how the first steps work at Psi Wellness, from your first message to the end of your first full session, whether we meet in Tampa or by secure video. Tampa office + Telehealth across Florida Book a Session: https://jason.mytheranest.com/appointments/new ## At a glance - Who it helps Anyone new to therapy, or new to this practice - Format In person in Tampa or secure telehealth - Location Tampa, 400 N Ashley Dr, Ste 1900 - Approach Unhurried, practical, and led by your goals ## Before the first session It starts with a short message or a call. You do not need to explain everything at this stage. The contact form is not a secure channel, so a sentence or two about what you are looking for is plenty. Our practice coordinator will follow up within one business day to confirm your first appointment. Before any full session there is a free 15-minute consultation (https://psiwellnessinc.com/free-consultation). It is a short call to hear what you are looking for and confirm the fit, with no charge and no obligation to book anything afterwards. If you plan to use insurance, the practical side is simple. Benefits are verified for each person before a first session, so tell us your plan when you get in touch. Fees and the in-network list are on the rates page (https://psiwellnessinc.com/rates). - **A time that works:** Office hours run Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm, Wednesday from 3:00pm to 9:00pm, and Saturday from 10:00am to 4:00pm. - **In the room or on screen:** Meet at 400 N. Ashley Drive, Suite 1900 in downtown Tampa, or by secure video (https://psiwellnessinc.com/telehealth-therapy-florida) from anywhere in Florida. - **Nothing to rehearse:** You do not need a tidy summary or the right clinical words. Your questions are a fine place to start. - **Teens:** For anyone under eighteen, a parent or guardian is part of the process from the start. The teen therapy page (https://psiwellnessinc.com/teen-therapy) explains how that works. ## The first full session The first full appointment is a longer intake session. Its job is to map your history and your goals, and to outline a plan. You describe what brought you in, in as much or as little detail as you want, and we look at what is happening now alongside what you would like to be different. Expect questions about everyday life too: sleep, work or school, the people around you, and what has helped before, even a little. That last part matters. The work here usually starts from solution focused therapy (https://psiwellnessinc.com/solution-focused-therapy), which pays close attention to what is already working, with CBT, ACT and DBT skills brought in where they fit. The point of the first session is not to solve everything. It is to understand the shape of things well enough to choose a sensible place to begin. You do not need the right words to begin. A sense that something needs to shift is enough. ## Brief questionnaires, if they help Early on you may be offered a short questionnaire, such as the PHQ-9 for low mood or the GAD-7 for worry. Each takes a few minutes, they are always optional, and we review them together. They are a snapshot rather than a diagnosis, and they give us a simple way to check later whether the work is moving in the direction you wanted. The assessments page (https://psiwellnessinc.com/assessments) explains how they are used. A free 15-minute consultation is the simplest place to start. No commitment, just a short conversation about what you are looking for. Book a Session (https://jason.mytheranest.com/appointments/new) ## What happens after The aim by the end of the first session is a shared sense of what to work on first and how often to meet. From there, ongoing care means regular sessions at a pace that suits you, adjusted as your needs change. Nothing is locked in. Along the way we check whether sessions are still useful and whether the direction still fits, and the plan changes when your life does. Psi Wellness is an outpatient counseling practice. Diagnosis and medication sit with medical providers, and if either becomes part of the picture, I can help you connect with the right person. If you are in immediate danger, call 911, or call or text 988. The crisis resources (https://psiwellnessinc.com/crisis-resources) page lists more urgent help lines. ## Common questions ### How long is the first session? It is a longer intake session than the ones that follow, so there is room to cover your history and goals without rushing. If you would like exact timing before you book, ask during the free consultation. ### Do I have to talk about everything at once? No. You decide how much to share and when. The first session is about getting oriented, and the pace stays in your hands from the very beginning. ### Can my first session be by telehealth? Yes, as long as you are in Florida at the time of the session. You receive a private link, and a phone, tablet or computer with a camera, a steady connection and a quiet spot are all you need. If you have never had a video session before, I will walk you through the first few minutes. ### What should I bring? Your questions, and your insurance details if you plan to use your plan. It can also help to jot down a few notes about what you would like to be different, for the moments when the words do not come easily. How the work goes ## From first message to first session. 1. 01 ### Reach out Send a short message or call the practice directly. 2. 02 ### Free consultation A 15-minute call to hear what you are looking for and confirm the fit. 3. 03 ### First session A longer intake session to map your history and goals, and outline a plan. ## Related - How I Work The approach behind the sessions. https://psiwellnessinc.com/how-i-work - Rates and Insurance Fees, insurance and the free consultation. https://psiwellnessinc.com/rates - Contact Hours, location and how to reach the practice. https://psiwellnessinc.com/contact ## Begin when you're ready. Reach out and we will find a time that works. Sessions are available at the Tampa office or by telehealth. Voice Assistant Powered by IMGNI: https://imgnilabs.com/ Hold the button for 2 seconds to start talking, or tap once. 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