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title: First Psychotherapy Appointment: What Happens?
description: What happens in your first psychotherapy appointment with Joanna Poppink, MFT? You may experience a range of feelings as you decide to begin psychotherapy work.
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![British Telephone Booth](https://eatingdisorderrecovery.net/images/stories/telephoneBooth.jpg)

To explore the possibility of gaining a psychotherapy appointment with Joanna Poppink please e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

During that conversation, you and I will determine if an in-person appointment seems like the best next step for you. If it is not, then I will do my best to refer you to the kind of treatment we both decide is in your best interest.

If we agree that a psychotherapy appointment is the next right step, I will first send you the required legal forms such as HIPPA, informed consent, and basic client information. These need to be signed by you before we begin.

All appointments are virtual.

Often many powerful feelings come up quickly in that first meeting. I will give you emotional room to feel what you feel and time to share whatever you are willing to talk about.

You will feel what it's like to be face-to-face with me. You will know if I seem capable of understanding your situation and if you can be with me as you feel what you feel. You will know if I seem like a person you might give an opportunity to be of help to you. You might give me a chance to accompany you and support you on your healing journey.

You may feel rigid. You may feel sad or angry. You may feel relief and hope. You may feel all these things. If you do, and you're willing and I believe that I may be able to help you and work with you, then we will make another psychotherapy appointment.

At that point, we are building a relationship and a healing bond that supports your steps toward a more free life.

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**Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.**

---

***Written by Joanna Poppink, MFT.** Joanna is a psychotherapist in private practice specializing in eating disorder recovery, stress, PTSD, and adult development.*

*She is licensed in CA, AZ, OR and FL. Author of the Book: [Healing Your Hungry Heart: Recovering from Your Eating Disorder](https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Your-Hungry-Heart-Recovering/dp/1573244708/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344473529&sr=1-1&keywords=healing+your+hungry+heart)*

*Appointments are virtual.*

*For a free telephone consultation, e-mail her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.*

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