New clients

15-minute video consultation

To get started, email me at chris@ozcounseling.com.

In that first email, feel free to tell me a little about why you’re looking for therapy, which insurance you have, and anything else you’d like me to know before we meet. Keep it as short as you like. You don’t have to have it all figured out. Email isn’t fully secure, so share only what you’re comfortable with.

I’ll reply within one business day. If you’d like, we can start with a free 15-minute video consultation. It’s optional, and some people find it helpful for seeing whether we’re a good fit before committing to a first session. You can tell me more about what’s bringing you in, I’ll explain how I work and what therapy with me actually looks like, and you can ask me anything you want.

If you’d rather skip the consultation, tell me in your email and we’ll go straight to scheduling your first appointment.

Paperwork

Once we’ve scheduled your first session, I’ll send you a packet of documents through DocuSign. Here’s what’s in it:

• Information about my practice. This covers everything the Washington State Department of Health requires me to share with you. You’ll review and sign these.
• A few pages about you. Some background, your insurance details, and a form for the credit card I keep on file for session fees.
• A few short screening questionnaires. These give me a sense of where you are right now.

Please complete the whole packet at least 24 hours before your first session.

What to expect

The first session lasts about 55 minutes. We’ll go over some paperwork and practical matters, talk about what brings you in and what you hope to get out of therapy, and start getting to know each other.

After that, sessions are generally 55 minutes long. We meet by video on Doxy.me, a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform. A few things help it go smoothly:

• Device: Doxy.me works on phones, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers.
• Browser: Doxy.me works in any modern browser, but for best results, use Chrome.
• VPN: if you use one, disconnect it before logging on to Doxy.me.
• Space: find a private spot where you’ll have minimal interruptions.

More questions? See the FAQ or fees and insurance.