The first consult isnāt just about assessment - itās about setting the tone.
If you donāt control the narrative from Day 1, your client will. Hereās why š
1. Clients Love Jumping the Gun šØ
If things donāt go their way within a few sessions, they panic:
ā āShould I get a scan?ā
ā āIs it something worse?ā
ā āI read online that it could be Xā¦ā
This panic isnāt clinicalāitās psychological.
It comes from a lack of clarity, consistency, and trust.
2. You Need to Anchor the Journey š§
From the first session, clients need to hear:
š āThis is a process. This is the timeline. This is how we know itās working.ā
When you frame the journey, you reduce fear-based decision-making.
It makes clients less likely to go rogue, chase unnecessary scans, or seek second opinions too early.
3. People Donāt Need More SolutionsāThey Need Direction š§±
The internet is full of āfixes.ā
But clients donāt need 5 optionsāthey need one direction they believe in.
Your role is to filter the noise and lead the way.
4. Framing Builds Authority and Trust š¼
When you hold space and outline the roadmap from the start, you stay in control.
This doesnāt mean dismissing concernsāit means leading with confidence.
And confident framing early on = long-term trust and better adherence.
5. TL;DR:
Clients want certainty more than solutions.
Set expectations early, anchor them in process, and keep the wheel in your hands.
The first consult is your shot to establish control, trust, and clinical authority.
šš¼ PDF version of this under āTreatment Notesā in the classroom.