What can I say when I first get in touch about counselling?
Before sending a first message, you may wonder whether your problem is “serious enough,” or whether you should organise the whole story before you contact someone because you cannot yet explain what is wrong.
You do not need to write a full personal history. The first contact helps us decide whether what you need fits the service I offer, and clarify how a session would work.
A short message is enough
You might write: “Hello. At work, other people’s feedback often makes me doubt myself. I would like to talk about it, but I am not sure which service fits. Could you tell me how sessions work, the fee and available times?”
If you are curious about OH Cards, you can say that too: “I would like to learn about OH Card exploration, but first I want to know how cards would be used.” You do not need to put many private details in your first WhatsApp, email or Xiaohongshu message. We can discuss those after the platform, privacy arrangements and service format are clear.
You can ask me questions
You may ask what the service is suitable for, whether OH Cards are required, how online sessions work, what confidentiality covers, and whether you can stop or change course if a session does not feel right. The duration, fee, payment and rescheduling arrangements should also be clear before you book.
Even “I have felt exhausted lately and do not know where to start” is a reasonable first message. We can find a more specific starting point together. Contacting me does not oblige you to book. If what you need falls outside my service, I will explain that and suggest more suitable professional resources.
You do not need to be good at describing your problems to get in touch. One thing you would like to understand right now is enough to begin a conversation.
Further reading: APA: making first contact and beginning therapy; BACP: first sessions and confidentiality.