I understand that for most people, taking the decision to speak to a psychologist is a big step, in some cases it may take someone years to finally decide to come to therapy. With all of the options out there, it can be difficult to know which kind of therapy would be helpful. For this reason, we would usually begin by talking on the phone. This would give you a chance to ask any questions you might have and I can get a sense of what you are needing help with. The next step would be for us to schedule a time to meet. In the first few sessions we would sit down in an informal and relaxed way and I would invite you to tell me in detail about what is troubling you. When you sit down to talk, you might be surprised that talking is easier than you initially thought. In that case, you can expect that I would listen carefully, occasionally asking for more detail where necessary. If, on the other hand, you find that talking doesn't come easy, then I would help by asking more questions, and as needed, provide a bit more structure to the session. Having been in therapy myself as part of my training, I am respectful of the unfamiliarity and potentially anxiety provoking nature of these first sessions, and so I would support you to go at your own pace. The first few sessions are also a time for you to ask any questions that you may have about therapy - the process shouldn’t be a mysterious one. Thereafter, if we decide to work together, we would agree on the duration of therapy and a regular once a week 50 minute session.