What to Expect in Your First Therapy Session (A Warm Welcome for Mothers)
“Laura has an extremely professional, capable and warm presence and approaches every interaction with care and compassion”
Beginning therapy can feel like standing on the edge of something unknown. You might be holding a whole swirl of feelings — a little nervous, a little hopeful, a little unsure. That’s completely okay.
You’ve likely been carrying a lot — the physical, emotional, and relational shifts of motherhood; the tenderness of birth or postpartum; the quiet grief of a changing identity. Maybe you’ve been keeping it all together for everyone else and are finally wondering... Who’s holding me?
Let me reassure you: this space is for you. You don’t have to show up with everything figured out. You don’t need to have the “right” words. You just need to bring yourself — as you are.
Whether you're in the early days of postpartum, navigating the wild middle years, or somewhere in between, I’m here to walk alongside you. Therapy is one of the few places in this world designed to hold your whole experience — messy, sacred, evolving — without judgment.
Here’s what our first session will feel like, and how we’ll begin.
Before We Begin: Setting the Tone
Our first session is 60 minutes, which gives us plenty of space to slow down, get to know each other, and ease into the work gently. There’s no rushing here.
Some women like to take a moment before we meet — to sit quietly, breathe deeply, sip a warm drink, or even light a candle. If that feels good to you, go for it. This work is sacred, and you’re allowed to treat it that way.
If you're joining online, find a comfy corner where you won’t be interrupted. It doesn’t need to be perfect — just enough space to let your shoulders drop and your nervous system breathe.
The First Few Minutes: Arriving Gently
We’ll start slow. You don’t have to launch into your life story. I’ll welcome you in, ask how you’re feeling about being here, and we’ll take it from there. If you’re nervous, that’s absolutely okay. We can talk about that too.
Some people begin with: “I’m not even sure what to say.”
Others begin with tears.
And some begin with silence.
All of it belongs.
Sharing What’s On Your Heart
Our first session is really about starting to understand your story — what’s been feeling heavy, where you’ve been stretched thin, what’s calling out for support. This could be:
A fog of overwhelm or exhaustion you can’t quite shake.
Feelings of disconnection — from your partner, your kids, or even yourself.
A big emotional moment — like a birth that didn’t go how you hoped, or a postpartum that hit harder than expected.
Or just that quiet nudge that says, something needs to change.
You can also share about your relationship to spirituality or deeper meaning, if that’s part of your world. Many of my clients are intuitive, earth-connected, or walking their own unique path — there’s space for that here too.
What Therapy Is (and Isn’t)
Therapy with me isn’t clinical or cold. It’s not about “fixing” you — because you’re not broken.
It’s about creating a space where you can hear yourself again. Where you can process what’s been unspoken, feel what’s been held in, and start to understand what’s really going on beneath the surface.
I don’t have a magic wand, but I do offer tools, presence, compassion, and gentle guidance. We’ll go at a pace that feels safe. Some days we’ll talk. Some days we might pause, breathe, notice what your body is telling you. Some days we’ll laugh. Some days we’ll cry. All of it is welcome.
How the Session Might Flow
Here’s a gentle idea of what to expect:
꩜ A warm welcome and grounding check-in
꩜ Space to share what’s bringing you to therapy
꩜ Exploration of what’s feeling hard, stuck, or confusing — and what you’re hoping for
꩜ Time to reflect on what’s important to you, including spiritual or ancestral threads
꩜ Room to ask questions or share any worries about starting therapy
꩜ A soft closing — a moment to land before we finish
After the Session: Let It Breathe
After our session, you might feel lighter. Or tender. Or both.
Sometimes therapy stirs the pot a little — not in a bad way, but in a something’s shifting kind of way. Give yourself time to land. Drink water. Go slow. Notice what’s coming up for you.
You might like to jot down a few reflections:
What stood out for me today?
What feelings surprised me?
What do I want to bring into the next session?
And if nothing comes right away, that’s okay too. Some things take time to rise.
A Few Gentle Reassurances
You don’t have to be polished or prepared. Come as you are.
You are the expert of your experience. I’m here to support your wisdom, not override it.
This is your space. You choose the pace, the topics, the depth.
There’s no such thing as “too much.” You are not too much.
Therapy as a Place to Come Home
So many mothers move through this season holding everyone and everything — and yet rarely feel held themselves. Therapy can be that holding.
A space to breathe.
To unravel.
To be deeply witnessed in your becoming.
Whether you’re here because you’re in the thick of a big transition, or simply because you want to reconnect with yourself, I want you to know — it matters that you’ve arrived.
Want to Take the First Step?
If you’re feeling called to begin, I offer a free 15-minute consultation so we can meet, feel into whether we’re a good fit, and answer any questions you may have.
I’m so glad you’re here.
Blog Post Title Two
“you have helped me feel good when I thought everything I feel is bad. You have helped me feel calm when all I felt was stress”
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
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Blog Post Title Three
“Everyone else tells me what I'm doing wrong or tells me what I should be doing, but you actually listen to me and you hear what's happening and understand what's happening. Which means I'm less stressed and then the whole house is less stressed”
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
Blog Post Title Four
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.