If you've never been to therapy, the unknown can be the hardest part. Here's what the first steps look like at Growth & Guidance, so you can walk in, or log on, knowing what's coming.
Before your first session: a free 10-minute call
The first step is a free 10-minute phone consultation. It's a short, no-pressure call to hear what you're navigating and match you with the right clinician on our team. You don't need to share clinical details, and you don't need to have the perfect words.
You can book your consult online or call our main line at (888) 464-6177. Online booking is a request, so please call our office to confirm your exact time. After the call, a brief intake follows, where we collect the basics and confirm your benefits if you're using insurance.
The intake session
Your first appointment is an initial intake session, a time for intake, history, and goal-setting. Your therapist will ask what brought you in and what you're hoping for, and will gather some history so the two of you can set goals together.
The first session is a conversation, not an interview. Your therapist will listen more than talk and take the pace from you. You don't have to tell your whole story on day one. Building trust takes time, and we plan for that.
Our Rates & Insurance page lists the initial intake session at $180 and individual sessions at $170, along with the insurance plans we accept and our sliding-scale and payment plan options.
How long a session lasts
Each session is about 45 to 60 minutes, depending on the service. Individual sessions are typically about 50 minutes. Your therapist will let you know what to expect for the service you're starting.
What you might talk about
There's no script you have to follow. You might talk about what's been hard lately, how long it's been going on, what you've already tried, and what you'd like to be different. If you're not sure what to say, that's okay too. Saying 'I don't know where to start' is a perfectly good place to start.
It can help to jot down a sentence or two beforehand about what you'd like to focus on. Our article on how to get more time with your therapist has more simple ways to make each session count.
Privacy and confidentiality
What you share in therapy is private. Federal and state laws protect your privacy and the confidentiality of your treatment, including protections for health information under HIPAA. There are limited exceptions, and your therapist will explain them up front so you know exactly where the lines are.
Please don't share health details through our website forms, which are not a secure channel. Once you're a client, you can use our secure client portal to message your therapist, view appointments, and share documents.
In person or online
You can meet in person at our offices in Oak Lawn, Illinois and Marietta, Georgia, or by secure video anywhere in Illinois, Georgia, or Florida. For telehealth sessions, you'll get a private link before each appointment. All you need is a private room, a device with a camera, and a stable internet connection.
After the first session
You and your therapist will work together on a treatment plan built around your goals, and you'll check in on progress as you go. If it isn't a fit after a session or two, tell us. We'll help you switch, with no awkwardness.
One practical note: if you need to cancel, please let the office know at least 48 hours in advance. Without 48 hours' notice, the full session fee is billed, and that fee isn't covered by insurance.
Have more questions? Our FAQ page covers insurance, telehealth, teens, and more, and you can meet our clinicians before you book.
Common questions
Do I have to talk about everything in the first session?
No. You decide what to share and when. Your therapist will take the pace from you, and building trust takes time.
Can someone come with me?
Your therapist may sometimes invite a spouse or family member to a session when it can support your care. If you'd like someone to join, mention it when you book.
What if I'm nervous?
That's completely normal. You can tell your therapist you're nervous. It's a good thing to say out loud, and it helps them pace the session for you.
Is therapy only for people in crisis?
No. Needing support is the most human thing there is. Therapy is a place to work through stress, relationships, life changes, and more, whether or not things feel like an emergency. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.