Initial Counseling Assessment

This first session focuses on understanding your concerns, patterns, and goals—so we can determine how counseling may help and whether we’re a good fit for each other.

Who This Is For

This initial counseling assessment is designed for people who are ready to begin counseling and want a clear, thoughtful starting point.

You may find this a good fit if you:

• Have decided to pursue counseling and want help clarifying how to begin
• Have a clear reason for seeking counseling and a genuine desire to move forward
• Want to understand how counseling might help and what working together could look like before committing to ongoing sessions
• Are looking for a clinician who values clarity, collaboration, and intentional pace

Some people arrive feeling certain about starting counseling. Others arrive with a small amount of hesitation, but a clear intention to move forward. This assessment is meant to meet you at that point.

What the Initial Counseling Assessment Is (and Isn’t)

The initial counseling assessment is a focused first session designed to help us understand what brings you to counseling and determine whether working together is a good fit.

During this session, we will:

• Discuss the concerns that led you to seek counseling
• Explore relevant background and current stressors
• Clarify what you’re hoping to address through counseling
• Talk through possible next steps, if appropriate

This session is not ongoing counseling, and it is not meant to resolve concerns in a single meeting. Instead, it serves as a starting point — a way to slow down, get oriented, and decide how to move forward thoughtfully.

The assessment is also not a crisis service. If you are in immediate distress or need urgent support, this may not be the appropriate place to begin.

What to Expect After the Assessment

After the initial counseling assessment, you’ll have a clearer sense of what support may be helpful and whether working together feels like a good fit.

At the end of the session, we will:

• Review what stood out as most important
• Discuss whether ongoing counseling is recommended
• Talk through possible directions for future work
• Answer any practical questions about next steps

If we decide to move forward, we’ll discuss scheduling and logistics for ongoing sessions. If it doesn’t feel like the right fit, you’ll leave with clarity about that as well.

There is no obligation to continue after the assessment. The purpose of this session is to support an informed, intentional decision about how to proceed.

Areas I Commonly Work With

People seek counseling for many different reasons. Some of the concerns I commonly work with include:

• Anxiety, stress, and feeling overwhelmed
• Life transitions, changes, or periods of uncertainty
• Relationship concerns and communication challenges
• Questions around identity, values, or direction
• Ongoing patterns that feel difficult to change
• Emptiness, purposelessness, depression, mood instability

I tend to work best with clients who are reflective, motivated, and interested in understanding patterns rather than quick fixes.

This is not an exhaustive list. If you’re unsure whether your concerns are a good fit, the initial counseling assessment is an opportunity to talk that through and determine next steps.

You can learn more about my background and approach here.

Scheduling and Fees

Sessions are scheduled based on clinical needs, availability, and financial considerations. Many clients attend weekly, though this may vary.

The initial counseling assessment is a 55‑minute session. Ongoing sessions, if recommended, are also 55 minutes.

The fee for the initial counseling assessment is $170. Ongoing sessions are $170 per session.

I am in‑network with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Ambetter, and the Federal Employee Program. For clients using insurance, out‑of‑pocket costs vary depending on deductible status, coinsurance, or copays. Payment is due at the time of service.

Accepted forms of payment include credit/debit card, HSA accounts, Cash App, PayPal, check, and cash.

Getting Started

To schedule an initial counseling assessment, please use the online scheduling system (button below). Once scheduled, you’ll receive information about next steps, including any forms to complete prior to the session.

If you have questions before booking, you can reach out using the secure contact form linked here. If you’re unsure whether an initial counseling assessment is the right place to begin, you’re welcome to reach out for clarification.

Make sure you input the scheduling link to the button (and the contact form to above text)

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