What Happens in Our Session? A Guide for First-Time Clients

Whether you’ve been thinking about exploring some long-term struggles in therapy for a while, or have recently found yourself in need of support, I’d like to share a warm welcome message here.

Sometimes it can feel daunting to talk about your feelings, to open up to someone new, or to simply take that first step when you don’t feel quite ready. It’s completely normal to feel anxious or “unprepared” before your first session.

There’s no right or wrong way to begin — all you need to do is bring yourself to the session. Therapy is a collaborative process, which means we’ll work together toward your goals. We’ll usually start by talking about what brought you here and discuss some of your personal background so that I can better understand and support you. I’ll bring my professional expertise into our sessions and walk alongside you through this process.

——Kefu Xie, 2025