What Happens If I Say Yes After a Consultation?
Here’s What to Expect When You’re Ready to Start Therapy
Understanding Your Next Steps with Clarity and Confidence
You’ve had a consultation with a therapist, and something clicked. You felt heard. The conversation felt grounded and safe. You can imagine opening up — maybe for the first time in a while.
Now you’re thinking: “Okay… I think I’m ready to say yes. But what happens next?”
First of all — that’s a big step. Saying yes to therapy is saying yes to yourself, your growth, and your well-being. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just need to be willing to begin.
Let’s walk through what typically happens after you say yes, so you know exactly what to expect — and can move forward with clarity, not confusion.
1. You’ll Schedule Your First Session
After the consultation, your therapist will offer you a few available dates/times. You’ll choose one that works best for you — or set up a recurring schedule if you're ready to commit weekly or biweekly.
Some therapists use an online booking system; others will confirm by email or phone.
🗓 Tip: If your schedule is busy, consider blocking out time for 3–4 sessions in advance so you can create consistency from the start.
2. You’ll Receive Intake Documents
Before your first session, your therapist will send you a few important forms to complete. These aren’t just “paperwork” — they’re designed to protect your rights and make sure you’re informed and empowered as you begin.
Typical intake documents may include:
Informed Consent Form Explains what therapy is, what it isn’t, your rights as a client, confidentiality, and how information is handled.
Privacy Policy (HIPAA Notice) Details how your personal information is stored, protected, and when it can (or can’t) be shared.
Practice Policies Outlines things like session length, cancellation policy, fees, communication between sessions, and how to reach your therapist if needed.
Intake Questionnaire A brief background form that helps your therapist understand why you’re seeking therapy and what’s going on in your life. You may have already filled this out prior to your consultation.
Don’t stress about getting everything “right” on the intake forms. It’s okay to be unsure. The real work will unfold in the sessions.
3. Your First Session: Grounding, Connection, and Curiosity
The first full session is about getting to know you — in a deeper way than the consultation allowed. You might talk about:
What brought you to therapy now
What you're hoping to work on
What has or hasn’t helped in the past
Anything important about your identity, background, or values
It’s normal to feel a little nervous. You don’t have to spill everything all at once. A good therapist will help set the pace and create a space where you can feel increasingly safe to open up.
4. You’ll Begin to Define Goals (Together)
You don’t need to come in with perfectly defined therapy goals — part of the therapist’s role is helping you explore and shape them. Early sessions might focus on:
Clarifying what “feeling better” looks like to you
Identifying patterns you want to change
Exploring specific areas like anxiety, relationships, burnout, grief, or self-worth
Your goals might include things like:
“I want to feel less overwhelmed and more in control.”
“I want to break patterns in my relationships.”
“I want to understand myself better and stop second-guessing everything.”
Whatever your goals are — big or small — they’re valid. And they can evolve over time.
5. You’ll Engage in the Ongoing Process
Therapy isn’t a quick fix — it’s a process. A relationship. A space for honesty, curiosity, and healing. Over time, you’ll begin to:
Develop new insights
Practice healthier coping tools
Unpack old wounds with support
Take actionable steps toward change
You don’t have to come with a plan every week. Your therapist will help guide the process while allowing space for whatever’s on your heart or mind.
6. There’s Room to Revisit, Adjust, and Grow
Therapy isn’t static — and neither are you.
As you grow, your goals may shift. You might uncover new things you want to work on. Or find that something you thought was the issue… was actually something deeper.
That’s not a problem — that’s part of the work.
A good therapist will welcome this. They’ll regularly check in with you about how things are going, what’s helping, and what needs adjustment. You’re not locked into anything — you’re in an ongoing conversation about your care.
Final Thoughts: Saying Yes Is a Beginning, Not a Commitment to Perfection
You don’t need to have it all figured out to say yes to therapy. You just need to be willing to show up, be curious, and be real.
Saying yes isn’t saying, “I know exactly what to do.” It’s saying, “I’m ready to explore something new, with support.”
If you’ve just said yes after a consultation, congratulations. You’ve already taken one of the hardest steps — starting. The rest can unfold, one session at a time.
Ready to Take That Next Step?
If we’ve had a consultation and you’re ready to move forward — we’re honored to walk with you.
Click below to schedule your first session. We’ll send over everything you need, and we’ll begin when you’re ready.