Starting therapy when you don’t know what to say.

Something feels off. That can be enough to begin.

You don’t have to be in crisis to start therapy. You might feel disconnected from yourself, tired of repeating the same patterns, or aware that something just doesn’t feel right.

Perhaps you’re navigating identity, relationships or a life transition. Perhaps you’re used to holding everything together—until it gets heavy.

You’re allowed to get support before things fall apart. You also don’t need to make your experience sound worse to explain why it matters.

A first conversation can begin with what you notice, even if you don’t yet know what to call it.

You don’t have to have the right words.

Therapy for real humans means you don’t have to say things perfectly, have a clear starting point, or explain everything in a neat way.

You can ramble. Change your mind mid-sentence. Not know what you’re feeling yet. We figure it out together. That’s kind of the point.

You could start with one sentence. A recent moment. Something that keeps happening. Or the fact that you feel nervous about being here.

If speaking feels difficult, you can say that too. We can talk about a pace and way of working that makes it easier to begin.

• “I don’t really know where to start.”
• “I keep noticing this pattern, but I don’t understand it yet.”
• “I can explain what happened. I’m less sure how I feel about it.”
• “Something feels off, and I’d like some help making sense of it.”

Hi, I’m Devan.

Before training in psychotherapy and counselling, I spent years working one-on-one with students navigating stress, identity, relationships and everything in between. I kept finding myself drawn back to the same thing: sitting with someone, helping them make sense of what they’re feeling and why it matters.

I’m currently completing my Master of Psychotherapy and Counselling at Western Sydney University. My work includes regular clinical supervision, and you’re welcome to ask about my training, experience and how supervision relates to your care.

I value honesty over performance. I believe people make sense in context. And I know how much it can matter to feel genuinely met.

I’m human too. That doesn’t make you responsible for looking after me in our sessions. The space is for your experience, and you can tell me when something isn’t landing.

What therapy with me is like.

I work in a person-centred, relational way. We go at your pace, follow what feels important, and stay close to what’s actually happening for you—not what you think should be happening.

In everyday terms, that means room to explore your feelings, relationships and experiences without having to perform a polished version of yourself. You can help shape what we focus on and tell me what you need from our conversations.

Sometimes we might notice a familiar pattern: how you pull away or lean in, what you expect from others, or when you anticipate being hurt or misunderstood. We can be curious about how that response makes sense in your context, and whether it still serves you.

It can be slow sometimes. We can also check together whether the work feels useful, what is becoming clearer, and what you would like to approach differently.

A place where you don’t have to figure it all out alone.

Sometimes the hardest part isn’t only what happened to you. It’s how alone you felt while it was happening, and how that aloneness seems to follow you into the present.

It might show up in relationships, in how you speak to yourself, or in what you expect when you ask for support. That may fit your experience, or it may not. We don’t need to assume a story before hearing yours.

Therapy cannot change what happened. It can offer a place to explore what you have been carrying with someone alongside you.

You don’t have to tell your whole history at once. “I’m not ready to go into that yet” is something you can bring into the conversation.

Start with a small conversation.

I offer a free first chat so we can get a sense of whether working together might fit. No pressure. Just a conversation.

You can tell me a little about what has brought you here, ask about how I work, and talk through the practical questions that matter to you. You don’t need to share everything or decide immediately.

Fit goes both ways. We can discuss what you are looking for, what I can offer, and whether another kind of support may be more appropriate.

A first chat is also a chance to notice your own response. Do you feel able to ask a question? Does the explanation make sense? Is there anything you want clarified before deciding?

Questions you can ask me.

You’re allowed to ask about the person you might work with and the arrangements around your care. Choose the questions that matter to you.

• “How would we begin if I don’t know what I need yet?”
• “What experience do you have with the things I’m bringing?”
• “What does being a counsellor-in-training mean for our work?”
• “What is confidential, what are the limits, and what is discussed in supervision?”
• “How do we decide what to focus on, and how do we check whether it’s helping?”
• “What are the current fees, session length, format and cancellation arrangements?”
• “What if I need a different pace, or want to stop?”

A little preparation, if it helps.

You don’t need homework before you are allowed to start. If a few notes would help you feel less put on the spot, you could write down three things: what prompted you to look for support, what you would like me to understand, and one question you want to ask.

For a remote conversation, choose somewhere you can speak as privately as possible and check your connection or phone setup. If privacy or access is difficult, raise that when arranging the conversation so we can discuss options.

Check the current fees and booking information before committing. Session formats and availability can change, so the practice website is the place to confirm those details.

You can bring uncertainty with you. “I’m not sure this is right for me yet” is a useful thing to say.

One next step is enough.

You could read a little more about me, explore the hub’s “What I need from therapy” questions, or arrange a free first chat.

You don’t have to turn this into a whole plan today. You can begin with a question and see where the conversation takes us.

If you’re looking for a space to slow down, reflect and feel more like yourself again, you’re welcome here.

Keep exploring.

Related reading

• Meet Devan ↗

  Get to know the person and the approach behind Therapy for Real Humans.

• Fees & practicalities ↗

  Check current fees, session information and practical arrangements.

• Professional information & policies ↗

  Read about training, supervision and the policies around your care.

• Questions about starting ↗

  Explore common questions before reaching out.