What To Expect In Your First Sex Therapy Appointment
Your teletherapy space should be private and free of distractions to ensure you are able to fully engage. Consider adding a white noise machine for an additional layer of privacy.
We’ve just finished our phone consultation and scheduled our first appointment! Now what?
You've just taken a big step, and my hope is that this blog post will help prepare you for the next steps to come.
Next you’ll create an account in my client portal so that you can complete the intake paperwork. It is important that you fill this out in advance, as I like to be prepared for our first session by reviewing the background information you provided in your paperwork. To ensure I have enough time to adequately prepare, I kindly request that you complete all paperwork no later than 24 hours before our appointment. Additionally, you will receive an appointment reminder via email with an invitation to our meeting room approximately 48 hours in advance. In case you can't locate the email or have trouble with your account password, please feel free to email me for assistance.
Feeling nervous about your first sex therapy appointment?
Here are some tips to help you prepare for our first session.
Reflect on your goals for therapy. What do you hope will be different as a result of our work together? What do you hope to gain from this experience? If you’re not sure about your goals I’m here to provide suggestions or help you gain clarity along the way, but as a client-centered therapist I want to hear your general hopes and expectations too.
Prepare your teletherapy space. Because our appointments will be virtual, it is important to create a private and comfortable environment where you can speak freely. Please do not attempt to have a session with me while driving! This poses safety risks and hinders your ability to be fully present and engaged in our work. Lastly, consider using a white noise machine or a white noise app on your phone if you have co-workers or housemates nearby. Even if you’re pretty sure your space is sound proof, adding a white noise machine at your door will help to drown out our conversation if others happen to walk by.
Practice self-care and relaxation. Take a few deep belly breaths a few minutes before our first appointment and remind yourself that it’s okay to be nervous. Maybe you’re here to talk about something that you’ve felt incredible embarrassment over. Maybe your relationship is at an impasse and you’re not sure there is a solution that can save it. Maybe you need to talk about something you’ve never told anyone before, so it makes sense to feel nervous. You’re brave for doing it nervously.
During Our First Session
Our collective preparedness will help us make the most of our time, so I will come to our first session having already reviewed your intake questionnaire and ready to meet you where you are. Here’s what you can expect our first session to look like:
I’ll do my best to put you at ease right away by introducing myself and getting you acquainted with the therapeutic process. I’ll review the boundaries of confidentiality and other practical matters of working together. You're welcome to ask questions about the therapeutic process at any time.
I will ask questions and guide further conversation to delve deeper into the issues that have brought you to therapy. It may take time for you to feel comfortable in therapy, and I strive to create a safe and supportive space where you feel able to open up. It is important to understand that withholding information will likely hinder progress and the desired changes you seek. Keep in mind that I can only help you with what you tell me, and I want you to be able to gain what you are needing from our work together.
We will explore your goals for therapy and the changes you want to see from working with me. I will help you clarify what you want to work on in therapy and share my initial impressions, including how I suggest we begin working towards your goals so that you can anticipate what our future sessions might look like.
From there, I will invite you to ask questions and share any thoughts or concerns that may have arisen. We will also discuss session frequency and scheduling needs. I am typically able to get you locked into a recurring appointment time so that you can easily plan ahead for future appointments.
There may be times you have homework in between sessions, but this is not typically assigned after the first appointment. In future sessions we will have collaborated together before agreeing on what will be practiced or completed before your next appointment. I will never ask you to do anything you are uncomfortable with! I am here to support you every step of the way, and I look forward to helping you navigate the complexities of your sexuality.