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Psychotherapy And EMDR, Burlington ON

905-681-7359905-681-7359

Getting Started

Therapy Starts with a Conversation

Welcome to Private Matters Psychotherapy

Starting therapy can feel intimidating, especially when you’re not sure what kind of support you need, what questions to ask, or how the process actually works. At Private Matters Psychotherapy, we make it easy to begin. Whether you’re feeling anxious, stuck, or simply curious about therapy, you don’t need to have it all figured out. We’ll walk you through every step, starting with a free 20-minute phone consultation. No pressure. No commitment. Just a human conversation to help you explore what feels right for you.

A person in a cozy room reads paper, sitting on a blue armchair, flanked by large vases of delicate white flowers.

Start with a Free 20-Minute Phone Call

You don’t need to commit to therapy to have a conversation. Our process begins with a free, 20-minute phone call, just a chance to connect, ask questions, and talk about what’s been on your mind. You’ll speak with one of our intake coordinators, who will gently guide the conversation and help you figure out what kind of support might be the best fit.

There’s no pressure to explain everything perfectly or to decide anything right away. Many people start this call by saying, “I don’t know where to begin.” That’s okay. We’ll help you sort through it.

You don’t have to explain everything perfectly, we’ll figure it out together.

We’ll Ask a Few Simple Questions

You don’t need a script, we’ll walk you through everything. During your call, we’ll ask a few gentle questions to get a sense of what’s bringing you to therapy. Things like:

  • What’s been feeling heavy or hard lately?
  • Have you ever done therapy before?
  • Do you have any preferences around who you work with?
  • What days and times are best for you?

You’re welcome to share as much or as little as you’d like. If you don’t know the answers or feel unsure, that’s completely normal. There’s no expectation to have it all figured out, this is simply a space to start exploring what might feel supportive for you.

How We Match You with a Therapist

Finding the right therapist is one of the most important parts of your healing process, and we take that seriously. After your phone consultation, our intake team will take everything you shared (your goals, preferences, schedule, and concerns) and thoughtfully match you with a therapist on our team.

We’re not a directory, and you won’t be left to sort through profiles on your own. We consider things like:

  • Your availability and scheduling needs
  • Therapist modalities and areas of focus
  • Personal preferences, identities, or lived experience that matter to you
  • The kind of support you’re looking for-whether that’s trauma therapy, EMDR, talk therapy, or something else

If we feel our team isn’t the right fit, we’ll always try to offer a thoughtful referral. No dead ends, no judgment-just guidance.

What Comes Next

If you decide to move forward, we’ll help you:

  • Schedule your first session
  • Complete any necessary forms through our secure client portal (Jane)
  • Answer any remaining questions about billing, format (virtual or in-person), or session structure

Your first session is a chance to ease in, not a test. You and your therapist will begin building connection, talk about what brought you here, and collaborate on what support might look like going forward. There’s no pressure to commit long term, you’re in the driver’s seat.

Did you know? Most people feel unsure about starting therapy. That doesn’t mean it’s the wrong time.

You Don’t Have to Be 100% Ready

Therapy can bring up a lot, hope, fear, uncertainty, even resistance. That’s normal. You don’t have to feel “ready” in a perfect, polished way to reach out. In fact, many of our clients come to us unsure if they belong in therapy at all.

  • If you’ve been holding it together for a long time…
  • If you’ve tried to figure things out on your own…
  • If part of you wants support but another part isn’t sure…

That’s a perfectly human place to begin.

You’re welcome to start the process, ask questions, take your time, or even pause and come back when you’re ready. We’re here when you are.

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