Starting therapy in Augusta
Most people take months to make the first call, and most say afterwards that the call was the hard part. This page covers what actually happens once you do, so there are fewer unknowns between you and starting.
What happens in a first therapy session?
The first session is mostly getting to know each other. Your counselor will ask what brought you in, some background about your life and health, and what you'd like to be different. You are not expected to arrive with it organized, and you won't usually leave with a diagnosis or a finished plan. Mostly it's a conversation.
How do I know if I need therapy?
A useful threshold is when something starts making decisions for you. You decline the invitation, avoid the call, stop driving that route, or shape your week around not feeling it. You don't need a diagnosis or a crisis to qualify. Being curious about feeling somewhat better is a sufficient reason to start.
How long does therapy usually take?
It depends on what you're working on, and any practice that gives you a fixed number before meeting you is guessing. Some people come for a specific problem and finish in a couple of months. Others work longer on something older. You and your counselor decide the pace together and revisit it as you go.
Is what I say in therapy confidential?
Yes, with narrow legal exceptions your counselor will explain at the start. Generally situations involving imminent danger to you or someone else, or the abuse of a child or vulnerable adult. Outside those limits, what you say stays in the room. Ask your counselor to walk you through the specifics in your first session.
More questions about starting therapy
How do I make an appointment at Hope Mental Wellness Center?
Call (762) 328-4673. Hope is at 3231 Washington Rd, Augusta, GA 30907, open Monday and Tuesday 9am–6pm, Wednesday and Thursday 9am–5pm; closed Friday through Sunday. You don't need a referral or a diagnosis to call, and you don't need to explain everything on the phone. A sentence about what's going on is plenty to get started.
Do I need a referral or a diagnosis to start therapy?
No. You can call a counseling practice directly and make an appointment yourself. A referral is generally something insurance requires, not something therapy requires, and because Hope doesn't bill insurance, there's no benefits process to clear first. You can simply call.
What if my therapist isn't the right fit?
Say so. It's a normal part of the process, not a failure or an insult. Fit matters more to outcomes than almost anything else, and counselors know it. You are never obligated to keep seeing someone you don't feel comfortable with, and asking to switch or to be referred elsewhere is a reasonable request.
How often will I come to sessions?
Weekly is the common starting rhythm, because momentum matters early on, and many people space sessions out as things steady. That said, the schedule is set between you and your counselor around what you're working on and what's realistic for your life, not by a fixed rule.
Is it normal to feel nervous before a first therapy appointment?
Completely normal, and worth saying out loud when you get there. Nearly everyone arrives at a first session some mix of nervous, unsure, or faintly embarrassed. You don't have to perform being fine, and you don't have to have your story organized. Showing up is genuinely the hard part.
What should I bring to my first appointment?
Bring a form of payment and, if it helps, a short note of what you want to cover. First sessions go quickly and people often forget the thing they came to say. Hope's fee is $75 per session, paid at the appointment, and we accept cash, check, credit and debit cards, including HSA and FSA cards.
Ready to talk to someone? Call (762) 328-4673 or come by 3231 Washington Rd, Augusta, GA 30907.
Sessions are $75, paid at the appointment. We do not bill insurance. Open Monday and Tuesday 9am–6pm, Wednesday and Thursday 9am–5pm; closed Friday through Sunday.
If you are in crisis right now, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, any hour of any day. Hope is an outpatient practice with set hours and is not a crisis service.