First session
What happens at your first session
Nothing here is a test. This is the order of the hour, so there are no surprises.
Step 1: Before you arrive
You get an email with the address, where to park and which door to use, or the video link. The agenda comes with it. Nothing needs filling in beforehand except what the practice's own portal asks for.
Step 2: The first few minutes
I explain who can see your records and the few times the law requires me to share them, answer questions about fees, and ask what would make the room easier.
Step 3: The conversation
You say what you want from the time. If you aren't sure, we start with how you came to be here. You can pause, go quiet or say not that today.
Step 4: The close
Near the end we decide whether to meet again, how often, and whether in the office or by video. You never have to decide in the room; you can write to me afterward.
What this is, and what it is not
Three things worth knowing before you come.
It is a conversation
A first session is a chance to talk, and to see whether the room and the person suit you.
It is not an assessment
I don't test you, and I don't decide whether you are autistic enough. Your records stay private except where the law requires otherwise.
It is not a commitment
You can leave without booking another session. Whether to continue is your choice.
Ready to write?
A few lines is enough, and I reply in writing.