By Dr George Baldwin, Clinical Psychologist at Nafs Health

Hi there! If you’re considering therapy through Nafs Health or have recently had your intake assessment, I’d like to extend a warm welcome! I work for Nafs in Bury St Edmunds and remotely, as a Clinical Psychologist. I believe that taking that first step is often the hardest part, and I want to acknowledge the courage it takes to begin this process. I’ve written this article to offer you some clarity on what to expect from your first therapy session if you were to work with me!

As a Clinical Psychologist trained in both Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) skills and Systemic Therapy, I work with individuals, couples, and families depending on your specific needs and preferences. Whether you’re seeking support for anxiety, low mood, relationship issues, or something else entirely, our work together will begin with understanding you and what has brought you to therapy.

Our initial session will last around one hour. There’s no need to prepare anything in advance as I already have access to the intake assessment information from NAFS, so you can come just as you are.

During this first meeting, we’ll take a closer look at the reasons for your referral and begin exploring the current concerns. We’ll talk about what’s been happening recently, what may be maintaining any difficult patterns, and also your history - both the challenges and the strengths that you bring. This is also designed to give us both the chance to get to know one another and begin formulating a way forward.

Everything we discuss in therapy is confidential and I take your privacy very seriously, as I know all my NAFS colleagues do too. The only exceptions are if I have concerns about immediate risk to you or someone else, or if you give consent for me to share information - for example, with another professional involved in your care. Therapy is very much meant to be a collaborative process. Based on your goals and what emerges during our conversations, we’ll develop a treatment plan that feels right for you. I’ll bring my expertise in evidence-based approaches, and you’ll bring your lived experience, meaning that we’ll work together as a team with your voice at the forefront of everything.

Following the initial session, here’s a little about how my hour-long therapy sessions are typically structured:

Check-in: How are you feeling today? Is there anything urgent we need to address?

Bridge: We’ll revisit key points or insights from our last session.

Assignments: If there were any “homework” tasks - such as behavioural experiments, worksheets or journaling - we’ll reflect on how they went.

Agenda: We’ll decide together what to focus on in this session, making sure it aligns with your wider therapy goals.

New Assignments: I may suggest exercises or reflections to try between sessions, always tailored to your pace and preference.

Reflections & Plan: We’ll summarise what’s been discussed and clarify your focus for the coming week as well as confirm your next session and anything you want to carry forward.

Therapy can be a transformative journey, and it can start with a single conversation. My aim is to create a safe, respectful, and productive space for you to explore your experiences, learn new strategies, and work towards meaningful change. I absolutely love getting to do this work with NAFS and seeing clients become empowered to achieve their goals!

If you have any questions before your first therapy session, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Nafs Health who can provide you with more information!