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Here is what the first sessions are like

For adults in Rhinebeck, Hudson, and across New York wondering what actually happens once they reach out.

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Who This Is For

Most people arrive at a first session with a quiet question: what am I supposed to do in here? The honest answer is nothing special. You don't need the right words, a tidy story, or a plan. You only need some willingness to notice what is going on for you.

Some of the people I see are new to therapy. Many have tried it before, got some help, and want something that goes further. Either way, the first few sessions are about getting to know each other and getting clear on what you want to change.

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What the First Sessions Cover

Why now
What made you reach out this month and not last year, and what you hope will feel different.
Your story, lightly
Enough of your history to see the patterns, without having to tell it all at once.
What you have tried
Past therapy, books, or habits that helped a little, and where they ran out.
A first taste of slowing down
A few minutes of noticing what happens in your body as you talk, only if you are willing.

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How the Work Feels in the Room

I combine Hakomi, somatic, and psychodynamic work. In practice that means we talk, and every so often I may invite you to pause. If your voice tightens when you mention a parent, or your hands go still when you talk about work, we might stay with that for a moment and get curious about it.

Nothing is forced. You set the pace, and you can always say no to an invitation. Over time, those small pauses are where people start to feel the difference between understanding a pattern and being free of it. The direction we are heading is what I call the Organic Self, the part of you that was there all along.

More about my approach

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What Sessions Look Like

The free phone call
We start with a complimentary 20 minute phone consultation. You can ask me anything, and I will ask a little about what brings you in.
Your first session
55 minutes, in person in Rhinebeck or Hudson, or by telehealth anywhere in New York State. The fee is $160 per session.
Finding a rhythm
Clients often start weekly and then move to every other week once things feel steadier.

What Can Shift

I want people to know we are not talking about years of therapy. My hope, and what I have seen with clients who are able to be mindful in the work, is that things can begin to shift sooner than they expect. Every person is different, and we look at how it is going together.

If you are curious, the free 20 minute phone consultation is the easiest place to start.