What should I expect?
I don’t want there to be any surprises. It’s enough of a step to look into counseling in the first place…
First Step…
Fill out a form here, and I will contact you by phone or email, whichever you prefer. This just helps to get the process started for a free consultation.
Consultation…
We will have a short conversation about what’s made you consider counseling. It will be brief and general, so don’t feel like you have to get into everything the first time you’re hearing from me! I will find out if you have any questions and do my best to answer them as well. If you want to schedule a session, we will find a time that works for both of our schedules, whether it would be in person or online. Then I will get some basic information from you to get the process started.
Client Portal…
After that, you will receive a link to create a secure client portal in an online site. Everything is confidential. There will be some forms to complete before our first session. There’s a consent form, HIPAA form, an intake form that will ask some questions about your history, and a form if you choose to keep a credit card on file. It should maybe take 15 minutes to complete.
Arriving at Your First Appointment…
The office is at 6557 Hazeltine National Drive, Orlando, FL 32822. There’s parking directly outside the building — no garage to navigate. Look for the green and white striped awning. You’ll see “Art and Sounds” in the window, which is another business in the building — that means you’re in the right place. My logo is on the door. The building stays locked, so when you arrive, just wait comfortably in your car. I’ll text you when I’m ready and come meet you at the door.
Your First Appointment…
I know this is probably the nerve-wracking part, especially if you’ve never been in counseling before. There may be a small part of you that’s excited or hopeful, but I get that there’s another big part that’s nervous. I will do my best to make you feel at ease.
I want to get to know you a little bit – just general things. I will see if you have any questions about any of the forms or the process. I will also ask what your goals are or what you’re hoping to get out of counseling. The sessions last about 55 minutes, and you’ll be surprised how fast the first session will go by!
At the end, we will talk about scheduling again and payment. I usually keep a card on file for clients, so I can just charge it later and we don’t have to take appointment time to do it. You can also pay by cash or check. After that, you’ll leave the office and hopefully feel a bit of relief that you took an important step for yourself!