Grounded, steady guidance for beginning therapy.

Starting therapy can bring up a mix of nerves, hope, and curiosity. My goal in our first session is to make the experience feel clear, supportive, and grounded — a place where you can settle in and begin exploring what brought you here at a pace that feels right for you.

We begin simply. A moment to settle in, check your audio or video if we’re meeting virtually, and breathe. There’s no pressure to launch into anything immediately. I bring a calm, steady presence to help you feel comfortable from the start.

As we talk, you’ll have space to describe what’s been happening in your life — what’s difficult, confusing, or painful. You don’t need to have a perfect narrative prepared. Some people come in with a clear sense of what they want to address; others arrive with only a vague feeling that something needs attention. Both are completely okay. If you’re unsure where to begin, I’ll guide the process with gentle, clear questions so you never feel lost or put on the spot.

Throughout the session, I’m paying attention not just to the words you’re saying, but to the emotional patterns that shape your experience — how you handle stress, what happens in your relationships, where shame or fear enters the picture, and how sexuality or intimacy plays a role in your life. Many clients come to me specifically because they want a therapist who can talk comfortably and openly about sex, desire, jealousy, inhibition, open relationships, and emotional intimacy. If these are part of your story, you’ll find I hold this territory with steadiness and zero judgment. Nothing is “too much,” and you never have to translate queer experience for me.

As the session unfolds, we’ll begin identifying what you want from therapy. This may look like wanting more clarity, less anxiety, steadier relationships, a deeper understanding of your desires, or relief from painful patterns that keep repeating. These early themes help us understand where our work might go and what feeling better would actually look like for you.

Toward the end of our time, you’ll have space to ask questions about the process — how therapy works, what you can expect week to week, how we might approach certain topics, or anything else that helps you feel informed. My goal is that you leave the first session with a sense of clarity and possibility, not pressure.

Most people describe the first session as calmer and easier than they expected. It’s not an interrogation or a test. It’s simply the beginning of a conversation — one where you get to show up as you are, without judgment, and begin to untangle what’s been weighing on you.

If it feels like a good fit, we can schedule a follow-up session and continue the work. If you need time to think it over, that’s completely fine. Therapy should begin on your terms, at your pace.

When you’re ready, I’m here.

Book a free consultation

or reach out at

drhuckaby@drscotthuckaby.com · 415-741-1607