BEGINNING THERAPY
What to expect from
a first therapy consultation.
Your initial 15-minute consultation is free. You can have questions, feel uncertain, and still take the first step.
Reaching out to a therapist can bring up practical questions alongside personal ones. What should I say? How do I know whether this person is a good fit? What happens next?
At Inner Compass Counseling, an initial conversation is a chance to talk about what you are looking for and ask about working together. You do not need a polished explanation or a complete account of your history to begin.
Start with what brought you here.
You might have a specific concern, such as anxiety, low mood, a difficult relationship, or a loss. You might notice a pattern you want to understand, or simply know that something needs to change. A brief description of what prompted you to reach out gives us a starting point.
If you have been in therapy before, you can share what felt useful and what you would like to be different. You can also say that you are unsure where to start. You do not have to decide on a therapy approach before contacting me.
Make room for your questions.
Therapy at Inner Compass Counseling is collaborative, with approaches shaped around each person’s history and goals. A consultation gives you space to ask about my approach and consider whether it fits what you are seeking.
Questions you might bring include:
- What might our first few sessions focus on?
- How do we decide on goals and discuss what is helping?
- How do you approach the concerns I am bringing?
- What if I feel uncertain about a particular method or pace?
You can read more about my background on the Isaac Giovannetti biography page, including my over five years of experience working in mental health and addiction treatment, including treatment settings and private practice.
Talk through the practical details.
All sessions are held by telehealth, so you can meet from anywhere in Florida. Ask about current availability, session length, fees, payment arrangements, and cancellation policies. These details matter when deciding whether ongoing therapy will fit your life.
If you are interested in individual therapy, let me know what you hope to work on.
Asking about couples therapy.
For couples therapy, we begin with what is bringing you both in and what each of you hopes will change. Ask about availability, session length, and fees.
Asking about an intensive.
A therapy intensive offers longer sessions for focused work. We have a separate conversation about your goals, preparation, scheduling, and pricing before deciding whether to proceed.
Fees, privacy, and getting started
How does private pay work?
You pay Inner Compass Counseling directly. I do not submit insurance claims for your sessions.
What will therapy cost?
- Initial consultation
- Free · 15 minutes
- Individual therapy
- $150 per hour
- Couples therapy
- $200 per hour
- Therapy intensives
- Priced separately. The length, schedule, and cost are agreed before scheduling.
To understand the ongoing cost, discuss session frequency, payment arrangements, and cancellation policies before deciding whether to schedule. It is reasonable to consider whether the plan fits your budget as well as your goals.
Your right to a Good Faith Estimate
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your health care will cost. Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have certain types of health care coverage or who are not using certain types of health care coverage an estimate of the bill for health care items and services before those items or services are provided.
- You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any health care items or services upon request or when scheduling such items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.
- If you schedule a health care item or service at least 3 business days in advance, make sure your health care provider or facility gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing within 1 business day after scheduling. If you schedule a health care item or service at least 10 business days in advance, make sure your health care provider or facility gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing within 3 business days after scheduling. You can also ask any health care provider or facility for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service. If you do, make sure the health care provider or facility gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing within 3 business days after you ask.
- If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more for any provider or facility than your Good Faith Estimate from that provider or facility, you can dispute the bill.
- Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate and the bill.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises/consumers, email FederalPPDRQuestions@cms.hhs.gov, or call 1-800-985-3059.
What should I know about confidentiality?
Clinical confidentiality has limits, including certain legally required disclosures, which are discussed during informed consent. Paying directly does not mean that records never involve electronic systems or outside service providers.
Do you work with teenagers?
Yes. I work with adolescents as well as adults. For anyone under 18, I ask a parent or legal guardian to give consent before ongoing therapy begins. Early on, we talk about how parents or guardians are involved and how confidentiality works for a teen. Parents and guardians are welcome to reach out first with questions.
What should I include in my first message?
Let me know you are interested in therapy and would like to ask about availability and working together. Keep initial email and voicemail inquiries brief. Ordinary email is not a secure clinical messaging service, so please avoid sensitive clinical details.
Do I need to choose a therapy approach first?
You do not have to decide on a therapy approach before contacting me. We can discuss your concerns, questions, and goals in an initial conversation.
Take the next step when you are ready.
Your first message can be simple: let me know you are interested in therapy and would like to ask about availability and working together. Please keep email and voicemail inquiries brief and avoid sensitive clinical details.
An inquiry is a starting point. It does not commit you to a course of therapy or establish a therapeutic relationship. We can discuss the next steps before you decide whether to schedule.
Request a free consultation