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You do not need to have your story worked out before a first psychotherapy session. A few starting points can make that conversation feel manageable.

Starting where you are

Plenty of people delay seeking psychological support because they feel they should first be able to explain everything neatly. That is not necessary. Dr Christine Shen, Acupuncturist, also holds qualifications in psychotherapy, and a first conversation with her can begin with something as simple as what has felt hard lately.

Useful threads might include how long the difficulty has been present, how you are sleeping, what is happening in your relationships or at work, and whether you have had counselling or other support before. Together these details sketch a starting point.

Questions about the process

You are welcome to ask how goals will be set and how you will both check whether sessions are helping. It is also fair to ask what confidentiality means in practice and when it might have limits.

There is no standard number of sessions that suits everyone. Likewise, the name of a therapy model will not tell you on its own whether working with a particular person feels right.

Keeping your priorities central

Psychological care should make room for what matters to you. You might want to understand a pattern, explore something that feels stuck, or work out how you would notice things shifting. Ask Christine how the approach will be revisited and what support options exist if your circumstances change between appointments.

If you are ever in crisis or feel unsafe, contact emergency services or a crisis line rather than waiting for a scheduled session.

Arranging that first conversation

Some people prefer to bring a trusted person for part of the first visit, or to start with a brief phone enquiry about how sessions run. Either is a reasonable way to test the water.

Christine offers psychotherapy appointments at the Lane Cove clinic, which many people from the lower North Shore find convenient before or after work. Writing a few words about what prompted you to reach out can be enough preparation for the first meeting.