What to Expect
Before We Meet
Once your appointment is scheduled, you’ll receive access to a secure client portal where intake forms are completed. These forms help shape the work ahead and allow our time together to be used thoughtfully.
There’s nothing you need to “get right” beforehand. You don’t need a clear story, a diagnosis, or a perfect starting point. Showing up as you are is enough.
Virtual Care
Sessions are currently offered through a secure, HIPAA-compliant virtual platform. Virtual therapy allows for flexibility while still supporting depth, connection, and focused clinical work.
An in-person option is being thoughtfully developed and will be shared when available.
The First Session
The first session is a space for orientation and connection. We’ll talk about what’s bringing you in, explore relevant background, and begin clarifying what you want help with. This session moves at a pace that respects your comfort level and sense of safety.
You’re always welcome to ask questions, pause, or take your time. Therapy here is collaborative, meaning nothing is rushed, forced, or assumed.
Ongoing Therapy
Therapy is not a script or a checklist. Some sessions focus on understanding patterns, some on skill-building, and others on deeper emotional or trauma-focused work. Over time, the work shifts as your needs change.
My approach is warm, direct, and trauma-informed. Sessions may include conversation, reflection, practical tools, and evidence-based trauma work such as Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART). Together, we focus on creating clarity, steadiness, and meaningful change.
Fees, Policies, and Boundaries
Therapy works best when expectations are clear. Policies related to billing, cancellations, insurance, and communication are outlined in detail in the FAQ and Financial Policy so you always know what to expect.
Boundaries are not barriers. They are part of what allows therapy to feel steady, reliable, and respectful of everyone’s time and energy.
The Rhythm of Care
Most people begin therapy with regular sessions and gradually adjust as goals are met or support needs evolve. We’ll talk openly about pacing, progress, and what feels helpful along the way.
Therapy isn’t about perfection or constant insight. It’s about building consistency, trust, and room to breathe.
A Note on Progress
Therapy often unfolds in subtle ways. Relief can come gradually, through moments of clarity, emotional steadiness, or a growing sense of self-trust. There may be times when things feel harder before they feel lighter.
All of that is part of the process and you don’t have to navigate it alone.
If You’re Wondering Whether This Is the Right Fit
You don’t need certainty to begin, just curiosity and willingness. If you’re unsure, that’s okay. Therapy is a conversation, not a commitment to have everything figured out.
At Tier One Counseling Collective, the goal is to offer a space that feels grounded, human, and genuinely supportive. Care that shows up like an inner circle would.