I'm new to therapy, and stayed with the first one I checked out. All of our communication was by Email, I never saw her or even heard her voice prior to my first session. She initially told me her practice was pretty full, and would I consider seeing her male colleague. I said no (planning to look elsewhere), I knew I wanted a woman for this. She Emailed me back saying it may take her some time, but she'll try to find a spot for me. It took a couple weeks, she Emailed me with some possibilities, but they didn't work out. Then she had a regular opening come up.... so wait another two weeks for that to be open. I think it was worth the wait. She really juggled things around in trying to find a place for me, and she didn't forget about me, she contacted me when she came up with something (I didn't nag her). So after all of that, I was very appreciative. We exchanged some "getting to know you" Emails back and forth, and I just waited for my first session. That session, as nervous as I was, went so well....I just had a good feeling about her, she made that very scary, nerve wrecking session go well. Considering I almost left before my session even started.

She shook my hand at the beginning of my session, and it wasn't planned, but at the end, I said goodbye and was walking past her to leave, I stopped and hugged her. I was pretty surprised I did that....completely out of character for me. But I was relieved the session was totally painless, and was thankful for the effort she made in getting me into her schedule. I initiated that first hug.... but she has hugged me after every session since then. She initiates them.