For most people, the hardest part of starting therapy is the bit before it starts. They have found you, they like your homepage, and then they stop and wonder what actually happens when they walk in or log on.
If your website does not answer that, many visitors fill the gap with worry. Some will email to ask. Plenty will quietly close the tab.
We build websites for therapists, and a short “Your first session” section is one of the simplest additions we suggest. Below is what to put in it, in plain words a client would use.
Why the first session needs its own words
Your About page says who you are. Your services page says what you help with. Neither usually says what the first hour will feel like.
A first-session section answers the questions people rarely ask out loud: Will I have to talk about everything straight away? What if I cry? Do I have to commit to more sessions? Answering those on the page shows you have thought about the person reading it.
Seven things to cover
Read your current site on your phone and check whether a stranger could answer each of these.
1. How long it lasts
“The first session is 50 minutes, the same as every session after it.” Or, if your first appointment is longer or shorter, say so.
2. What you will talk about
A sentence or two is enough. For example: “We will talk about what has brought you here, what you would like to be different, and whether working together feels right for you.”
3. That they do not have to share everything
Many people worry they will be pushed to tell their whole story in one go. A line such as “You can share as much or as little as you like” takes real pressure off.
4. Where it happens and how to get there
For in-person sessions: the address, whether there is a waiting area, the nearest parking or station, and whether the room is accessible. For online sessions: the platform you use and when the link arrives.
5. What it costs and how to pay
The fee for the first session, whether it differs from later sessions, and how payment works. Keep this consistent with your fees page so nobody finds two different numbers.
6. What happens afterwards
Do you agree a regular time together? Is there a review after a set number of sessions? Can they take time to think before booking another? Saying “There is no obligation to book again” reassures more people than you might expect.
7. What happens to what they tell you
A short, honest line about confidentiality and its limits, and a link to your privacy notice. Keep the notice in step with how you actually work. If tailored UK therapy privacy documents are still on your list, TheraComply is our optional £24/year route for that paperwork.
Where to put it
Two places work well:
- A short section on your fees or contact page, headed “Your first session”, so it sits right where people decide to get in touch.
- A link from your homepage, such as “What to expect in your first session”, for visitors who want to read before they look at anything else.
If you offer several quite different services, such as individual and couples work, one paragraph per service is better than one general answer.
Common trips we see
Writing it for colleagues. “Initial assessment and contracting” means a lot to a supervisor and very little to a nervous client. “We will get to know each other and agree how we will work” says the same thing in their words.
Promising what you cannot guarantee. Avoid “you will feel better after the first session”. Describe what happens, not how they will feel.
Hiding it in a PDF. A downloadable welcome pack is lovely as an extra. The key points still belong on the page, readable on a phone.
Leaving it out of date. If you moved rooms, changed platforms or changed your fee, update this section the same week.
What clients notice
The words on your site set the tone before anyone meets you. One client put it simply on our reviews page: “People think it’s a warm and welcoming website.” A clear first-session section is one of the quickest ways to get that feeling across.
A small change with a big job
You can write a good first-session section in half an hour. Answer the seven questions above in short, plain sentences, put it near your enquiry button, and link to it from your homepage.
If you already have a managed website with us, you can add this yourself, and we are happy to help if you would like a second pair of eyes. If your current site makes it hard to add new sections or keep them up to date, tell us how you work and we can talk through a new or rebuilt website.
Short answers
Should I call it an assessment or a first session?
Use the words your clients use. “First session” or “initial session” is clearer to most people than “assessment”.
Should I mention a free introductory call here?
Yes, if you offer one. Say how long it is and how to book it, so visitors can see the gentlest first step.
How long should the section be?
Short enough to read on a phone in a minute or two. Seven short paragraphs, or a few bullet points, is plenty.
Do I need a separate page for it?
Not usually. A clear section on your fees or contact page, linked from your homepage, does the job.
Thanks for reading. May your next visitor arrive at their first session already knowing what to expect.