Your First Session with Melano Therapy: A Guide
Hello, and welcome to Melano Therapy!
I’m Julieta Melano Zittermann, a Registered Psychotherapist with the CRPO. I have years of experience in the mental health field working with folks on a range of concerns including, but not limited to, trauma, anxiety, emotional regulation issues, depression, and personality disorders. I also work with couples addressing issues like infidelity, communication, life transitions, and intimacy-related concerns.
If you’re reading this article, you have likely completed your consultation call, we’ve decided we’re a good fit to work together, and you’ve booked your first session. It can be exciting and nerve wracking to begin therapy, and I’ve gotten feedback that it’s helpful to know exactly what to expect, so in this article I break down what the first session looks like. I’ll address the following:
- Preparing for your first session
- How to get to the office
- What the office offers and looks like
- Online session breakdown
- What you can generally expect from the first session
By the end of the article, I hope you’ll feel more confident about coming into that first session!
Preparing for Your First Session
You don’t have to do too much to prepare for your first session. It can be helpful to consider what issues you’re looking to address, but overall, I will be guiding you through the process.
The most important thing to remember is to fill out your intake form. I will send it ahead of time, and it takes about 5 minutes to read through and complete. If you do not fill it out prior to your appointment, we’ll spend a little bit of time during the first session going through important details that I require beforehand.
Therapy at 728 St. Clair West: How to Get to Melano Therapy
It is so stressful to go to an appointment for the first time and get lost or not find parking. There’s nothing worse than leaving on time then being late as a result of logistical issues. Melano Therapy offers really straightforward transit and parking options:
- By Transit (TTC): We are a straightforward 15-minute walk from St. Clair West Station (Line 1), just walk west on St. Clair Ave. W and you’ll find the office on your right.
- Alternatively, you can hop on the 512 or 126 St. Clair Streetcars from the station, which take about 8 minutes from the station and drop you off just steps from the front door.
- By Car and Parking: Drivers don’t need to worry about confusing or unreliable parking. There is a convenient Green P parking located directly behind my building, alongside accessible street parking right along St. Clair Ave W and small surrounding streets.
To make your arrival as easy as possible, here is exactly what to expect when you visit Melano Therapy:
- Enter the Building: When you arrive at 728 St. Clair Ave W, you’ll see a sign that says “Melano Therapy”; you can walk straight into the main entrance.
- Head Upstairs: My clinic is located on the second floor. Walk up the stairs, make a left and you will see a door with “Melano Therapy” on it.
- Have a Seat: We share a quiet, dedicated waiting area with another trusted therapy practice. Please make yourself comfortable in one of the brown chairs.
- Help Yourself: There is a fridge with water and a bathroom just to the right of the waiting room. Help yourself to whatever you need prior to your session.
- Your Session Begins: There is no need to check in at a front desk or ring a buzzer. I will come out to personally meet you right at the time of our scheduled appointment.
If you experience any issues (e.g., you cannot find the office, the door is locked, I don’t come within 5 minutes of our appointment time) you can call me at 647 323 6577 or contact me via email at julieta@melanotherapy.com. I am quite responsive and here to help!
The Melano Therapy Office
I operate out of a cozy, second-floor office overlooking St. Clair W. Ave. You’ll sit on a couch that comfortably fits two people. There are stress toys accessible next to the couch, and a diffuser with a citrus scent you can turn on before or at any point throughout the session if you find it calming.
You can feel free to open or close the blind as needed. I also usually only turn on the standing lamps in the room, but if you prefer the overhead light be on, just ask. In the summer, there’s an AC unit, and once it gets colder, the heating is turned on. The temperature is generally very comfortable but can be adjusted on request.
You’ll see a shelf of therapy-related books in the office which you can feel free to browse or ask me about at any point. I lend my books out freely, so if there’s one you’ve been meaning to read, just ask. If it is a good fit for you, I may also recommend a book throughout treatment.
I’ll be sitting across from you, and taking notes on a (PHIPA) compliant platform named CarePatron on my laptop. If you prefer I take manual notes on a clipboard, you can feel free to ask. I have no problem with that, and will honour your preference.
Online Sessions at Melano Therapy
If you’ve opted for an online session, our video calls will be completed through the online telehealth platform, CarePatron. I also take notes on CarePatron throughout our session. As aforementioned, CarePatron is completely PHIPA-compliant, meaning that it is built to keep your notes and our sessions confidential and safe. It is data-encrypted and has strong security certifications.
As a rule, I do not take online or phone sessions if you’re driving or in the midst of any activity that requires your urgent attention. If you are driving, you will have to pull over and park somewhere in order to complete the session. I also advise people to find a quiet, private spot if possible.
When you book an online session, you should immediately receive a confirmation email that includes your session link. You can access that link at the time of our meeting, and it will take you directly to our video conference. At the time of our session, I will join the meeting and we’ll begin.
What to Expect from Your First Session at Melano Therapy
No first session is ever the same because no two people are the same, however, I like to keep a loosely-structured agenda in mind as we complete the first session.
I usually start with an introduction and check-in. Although we’ve likely spoken over the phone, I like to introduce myself and reiterate my qualifications. I may ask how you’re feeling in anticipation of our session, or if there’s anything you need prior to us beginning.
Before getting into the meat and potatoes of the session, I will go through confidentiality and consent of services. I will also check whether you’ve filled out your intake. If you haven’t had the chance to, I will gather some basic information I require in order to proceed with the session, including your address and an emergency contact, and encourage you to fill it out after the session.
Once we’ve completed the “housekeeping” of the session, I usually begin with some overview intake questions. I’ll start with a breakdown of what has prompted you to book a session. Some of the questions may feel a little bit familiar as they will be similar to the ones I’ve asked during the consultation call. I am looking for a more in-depth account than you may have been able to provide during our call. After that, I will ask you other intake questions to get an idea of what life looks like for you, currently.
This part of the process is a little bit more “loose” and really differs from person to person, depending on your concerns. For example, we may focus more on interpersonal relationships than work if that’s the reason you’re seeking therapy. If you find yourself compelled to talk in more depth about one topic and we don’t cover another area of your life, don’t worry. The first few sessions are generally designated for information gathering, and we’ll work to cover the foundational building blocks that make up your life.
You do not have to go into detail about anything you don’t want to. If I ask a question you don’t want to answer, tell me. The pacing of therapy is something we collaborate on, and it makes complete sense not to disclose everything about your life to someone you’re just meeting. If you do feel open, that’s also completely okay, and you can feel free to share as openly as you feel comfortable.
The End of the Session
When we get to the last 5 minutes or so of the session, I’ll let you know. I may reflect to you some things I’ve noticed in the session, and I’ll outline what our next steps look like. I’ll share my professional opinions around frequency of sessions and we’ll collaboratively decide what works best for you. If it feels like a good fit, we’ll set up another session.
If you need time to consider things, you are under no obligation to book. I’ll simply send you an email with details and you can reach out if you’d like to book a second session. I do not charge for the first session if you don’t book a second, and I’m happy to offer re-referrals if you felt we weren’t the right fit.
All in All,
Anticipating the first session may be a little bit intimidating, but I work to carry you through the process in as painless and straightforward a way as possible. If you have questions, you can always ask ahead of time; nothing’s off limits.
I’m looking forward to meeting you and helping you along your journey!
Want to learn more about the therapy process? Read the following:
Does Couples Therapy Work?—What the research shows
How Long Does Therapy Take? A Toronto Therapist Explains
How to Make Online Therapy Feel More Connected and Effective
What Makes a Good Therapist? 20 Signs Your Therapist Is Actually Good
