What happens in a first online psychotherapy session?
A first online psychotherapy session is a chance to discuss what is troubling you, what you have already tried and whether working together makes sense. With me, it lasts 50 minutes and costs €150. You do not need a diagnosis, a complete account of your history or a preferred therapy method. There is no commitment to continue.
Perhaps you have read enough about therapy to know the vocabulary. You can explain your patterns, manage your responsibilities and look reasonably well from the outside. What is harder to explain is how much effort that takes—or why you still cannot properly settle.
Booking a session can then feel like another task you need to get right. Where should you start? What if you spend the whole time explaining the wrong thing? What if the therapist hears how well you function and misses the cost?
You do not need to resolve those questions before we meet. They can be part of the conversation.
What would we talk about?
We start with what brings you here now. That might be persistent vigilance, overload, difficulty recovering, or patterns around closeness, criticism and trust. You might recognise high sensitivity, complex or developmental trauma, or simply a sense that something needs to change.
Rather than covering your entire life, we begin with enough context to understand the current difficulty. I may ask what happens in particular situations, how it affects daily life, what helps, and what previous therapy was like.
You can start with something ordinary: “After a difficult conversation, I stay on alert for the rest of the day.” Or: “Nothing is falling apart, but keeping it together is exhausting.” You do not have to make your experience sound more dramatic to bring it to therapy.
The first session is also your opportunity to ask questions. Professional guidance describes this as a conversation about both your concerns and the therapist’s approach, helping you consider whether the fit is right. UKCP: psychotherapy questions and answers.
Do I have to tell you everything straight away?
No. You can say that something matters without describing it in detail. “There are things from childhood that I am not ready to talk about” gives us somewhere to begin.
I may need to ask direct questions to understand your circumstances and what support is appropriate. You can ask why I am asking, tell me when something feels too much, or say that you need a moment.
We also discuss practical boundaries, including confidentiality and its limits. The aim is a conversation you can participate in, rather than an account you must deliver perfectly.
Do I need to choose EMDR or Lifespan Integration first?
No. You are booking psychotherapy with me, rather than choosing a technique from a menu.
My work connects regulation, processing and making changes in everyday life: Regulate → Integrate → Consolidate. The first session helps us begin considering what that might mean for you. It does not commit us to a fixed sequence or mean that we immediately start processing traumatic memories.
EMDR, Lifespan Integration and, where useful, HRV training with HeartMath technology (biofeedback) are options within the work. We discuss their relevance rather than assume you need all of them. If you want to understand the differences beforehand, see Lifespan Integration vs EMDR.
What can I realistically take away from one session?
We can begin forming a view of what needs attention, consider whether I am an appropriate person to help, and discuss a possible next step. That might be further sessions, more assessment, or a different kind of support.
I would not promise a complete explanation, a diagnosis or a treatment outcome in 50 minutes. Some questions need time. A useful beginning can include being clearer about what we still need to understand.
You are also considering me. Did you have room to ask questions? Could you express uncertainty or disagreement? Was the explanation of the proposed work understandable? You do not have to decide on an ongoing arrangement before the session ends.
Why is the first session paid?
I offer a full professional appointment rather than a free introductory call. We use the time to begin understanding your situation and considering appropriate support, not simply to introduce the practice.
The fee is €150 for 50 minutes, with no commitment beyond that session. There is no requirement to buy a block or continue afterwards. The appointment is paid when booking; deciding whether to continue is a separate step.
The first-session payment is non-refundable for cancellations or missed appointments. You can reschedule with at least 48 hours’ notice. Please read the full fees and booking terms before reserving a time. If you cannot complete the online payment, email me and I can arrange an alternative payment method.
What do I need for an online session?
A private space, a reliable connection and a device suitable for a video conversation. Headphones can help with privacy. A few notes about what you want to discuss are welcome, but there is no need to prepare a written life history.
I offer sessions in English to adults across Europe and beyond, subject to suitability and the arrangements relevant to your location. We clarify practical questions about online work and what to do if the connection is interrupted. You can read more about online psychotherapy.
If this sounds like a useful starting point, you can choose an available appointment below. You can arrive uncertain about the explanation, the method or what comes next.