New client onboarding
Starting therapy can feel like a big step.
It is completely normal to feel uncertain or nervous when beginning. Here is everything you need to know about preparing for your first appointment.
Before your first session
From the moment you reach out, our priority is creating an unhurried, transparent onboarding experience.
Request an appointment
We will be in touch to review your schedule, what brings you to therapy, and confirm the practice is a good fit.
Secure digital intake paperwork
You will receive an invitation to our encrypted EHR patient portal to complete consent forms, practice policies, and payment setup electronically.
Informed consent & privacy
We provide full written disclosures on confidentiality, telehealth security protocols, cancellation policies, and the No Surprises Act Good Faith Estimate.
Appointment confirmation
Once paperwork is signed, your weekly recurring appointment slot is officially reserved exclusively for you.
What to expect during your first session
Your initial 50-minute clinical intake is a gentle, collaborative conversation. There is no pop quiz, and you are never forced to share anything you are not ready to explore.
- What brings you in today: the primary stressors, emotions, or relational dynamics currently feeling heavy or disorienting.
- Your personal goals: what feeling better or more grounded looks like for you in concrete terms.
- Relevant background & strengths: a brief overview of your life story, relationships, and the protective strategies you have used so far.
- Questions about the therapeutic process: time reserved for you to ask anything regarding my style, pacing, or confidentiality.
Mindful, unhurried space
Gentle preparation
What to bring & how to settle in
For telehealth sessions
- A quiet, private room where you cannot be overheard
- A glass of water or cup of warm tea
- A notebook or journal if you like jotting reflections
- Comfortable headphones for acoustic privacy
For in-office sessions
- Arrive 5–10 minutes early to unhurriedly settle in
- East Stroudsburg: 528 Seven Bridge Road, STE 132
- Allentown: 1275 Glenlivet Drive, Suite 100
- Bring anything you would like to discuss written down
Intake forms & secure portal access
Important patient privacy notice
To adhere strictly to federal healthcare privacy laws (HIPAA), sensitive clinical questionnaires and medical history documents are never collected through public website forms. All active client forms are accessed exclusively via our encrypted, authenticated EHR portal.
Complete intake forms
Via the secure client portal.
Review practice policies
Consent documents and Good Faith Estimates.
Patient portal
Encrypted login for existing clients.
Ready to take the first step?
Request an appointment and a member of the practice will be in touch to arrange your first session.