What to expect
Your first sessions
The first sessions are conversations. Nobody is asked for a full story.
- 01
Step 1: A meeting for parents
Just you, 50 minutes. I ask what worries you, what you have tried and what you hope will be different. You get the consent forms and the fee in writing.
- 02
Step 2: Your teen comes in
Your teen has their own first session. We talk about what they want, and I explain what stays private and what I would share with you.
- 03
Step 3: What I tell you
I tell you how I work, how often I will check in and how I will reach you. I do not report what your teen says.
- 04
Step 4: A next step
At the end of each first session we agree on what comes next, and you can ask me anything about fees and cancellation.
What the first sessions are not
Many families arrive braced for more than will happen. Here is what these sessions leave out.
Not an assessment of your parenting
I am not here to judge. I am asking what you have tried and what you would like to be different.
Not a lecture for your teen
Your teen is not told what is wrong with them. We start with what they want from the sessions.
Not a commitment
You can stop after one session. Saying so needs no reason.
Not a report card
I do not tell you what your teen says. I tell you how things are going.
Not a test
There are no right answers and nothing to pass for you or for your teen.
Not a push
"Not today" is a full answer, for your teen and for you.
About the first session
01Does my teen have to talk about anything?
No. Your teen decides what to share and when. Many teens start with school, friends or sleep.
02Can a parent sit in on a teen's session?
Not in the first sessions. If family sessions would help later, we talk about it with your teen first.
03What if my teen doesn't want to come?
It is common. Write to me and we will talk about how to start; a meeting for parents often comes first.
Ready to write?
Tell me how to reach you. I reply on weekdays.