What to Expect in Your First Therapy Session.
Booking a first session means agreeing to talk about your life, often about things you have not said out loud, to someone you have not met, over video. It is reasonable to want a clearer picture of what that involves before you click a button.
Book a free 15-minute consultationShelby Doherty-Sirkovich, RP, MACP · CRPO #12083 · CCTS-I · Accepting new clients
Here is the full process at 365 Psychotherapy & Counselling: the free 15-minute consultation, what happens between the consult and the first full session, and the shape of session one itself.
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Step one
The Free 15-Minute Consultation
The first contact is a free 15-minute video consultation with Shelby. It takes place through OWL Practice, the secure platform used for all appointments. You sign into your OWL account and join by clicking the button beside your appointment time. There is no separate Zoom link and no app to install.
The consult is a low-stakes conversation. Shelby will ask what has been going on for you and what brought you to the site. You are welcome to ask whatever questions you have: about her approach, about logistics, about whether she has worked with situations like yours.
There is no obligation to book a full session afterward. The purpose is to see whether the two of you are a reasonable fit before anyone commits to ongoing work. OWL Practice requires a credit card on file to create an account and book any appointment, including the consultation. The consultation itself is not billed.
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Step two
Intake Paperwork
If you decide to book a first full session, intake paperwork is sent through OWL. It arrives by email and can be completed online before the appointment. The forms cover the usual territory: basic background, current concerns, relevant history, and informed consent for virtual psychotherapy.
The credit card already on file from your OWL account setup will be used to bill full sessions. Sessions are billed only after they occur; the card is not charged in advance, and it is not charged for the consultation. Full fee details are on the cost of therapy page.
Completing the intake before session one is required. The consent forms need to be in place before therapy can begin, and filling out the rest at your own pace lets you think through your answers without a clock running.
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Step three
The First Full Session
The first full session runs 50 to 60 minutes. The general shape is:
- A conversational review of your intake. Shelby prefers to go through your intake with you during the session rather than reading it on her own beforehand. It lets her ask clarifying questions and follow up where something needs more context, which keeps the first meeting feeling like a conversation rather than a questionnaire.
- A walkthrough of clinic policies and procedures. How sessions run, cancellation, confidentiality, and any logistics questions you still have.
- A conversation about goals, relevant history, and what brought you in. This is where the actual work of session one sits.
The goal of session one is not to get to the hardest material right away. It is to start building the working relationship and get oriented to what you actually want to address. The aim is for you to leave feeling Shelby has understood the shape of what you are dealing with. Very little tends to be resolved in a single session, but for many clients, that sense of being genuinely understood is a refreshing first step.
Comfort matters here. If you have never been to therapy, or have not done it virtually, there is a small learning curve to the format. Shelby does not rush through it.
What You Need on Your End
- Sessions happen over video through OWL Practice. You will want a private space, a reliable internet connection, and headphones if you share a home with other people.
- If you are joining from a phone or tablet, please prop the device on a stand or stable surface so you are not holding it for the full session. A steady camera is much easier to stay with over 50 minutes.
- Shelby sees clients Monday through Thursday, 9am to 5pm. Sessions are available to Ontario residents only.
Common Questions About the First Session
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No. The intake paperwork is the only preparation required. Shelby leads the conversation in session one, so you do not need to arrive with anything in mind.
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Shelby leads the conversation throughout, so not knowing where to start is not a problem. If something is hard to put into words, she will ask questions that help you find them.
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It happens, and it is not an awkward conversation. Fit matters a lot in therapy, and pretending a mismatch is not a mismatch helps no one. If Shelby is not the right match, she will say so and, where possible, point you toward clinicians who might be.
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Sessions can be cancelled or rescheduled up to 48 hours before the appointment time. Cancellations inside that window are billed at the full session fee.
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Yes, with the standard exceptions required by Ontario law (imminent risk of harm to self or others, suspected abuse of a child, or a court subpoena). Shelby reviews these specifics with you in session one so you have a clear picture before you share anything you want to keep private.
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OWL Practice runs in your web browser on both mobile and desktop, with no app to install. A laptop or tablet is usually more comfortable for a 50-minute conversation, but a phone works if that is what you have.
A Consultation Is the Practical First Step
The 15-minute consultation is the practical way to find out whether this is a good fit. The consultation is not billed, and there is no obligation to continue afterward. More general questions are addressed on the FAQ page.
Book a free 15-minute consultationThis page is educational and is not a substitute for individual clinical care. Shelby Doherty-Sirkovich is a Registered Psychotherapist (CRPO #12083) practicing virtually across Ontario, Canada. If you are in crisis, the 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline is available 24/7 by call or text. In an emergency, call 911. For Ontario community and social services, call 211.