Before the first session: getting in touch
The first contact is practical. You can call, email or use the contact form and share your name, how to reach you, whether you would prefer the office or telehealth, and the days and times that usually work for you. You do not need to tell your history yet. Please keep medical details, diagnoses and insurance numbers out of email and web forms, since ordinary email is not a private channel for health information.
Dr. Lehmann then gets back to you for a brief conversation. It is a chance to say where you are with cancer, whether you are newly diagnosed, in treatment, finished, or caring for someone else, and to ask whether she can help with your situation. Fees and insurance can be covered then too. If the practice is not the right fit, you can ask for a suggestion of where to turn instead. The American Cancer Society notes that many counselors offer a short call like this before you commit, and that it helps you get a feel for their style.
Before your first appointment you will receive intake forms. The New Clients page describes each step.
The first session
A first session is mostly about getting to know you. Expect questions about what brought you in, where you are in treatment or recovery, the people around you, and relevant history, including earlier losses or hard times. You can also talk about what you hope will feel different. It is fine to say you are not sure yet.
You are also getting to know Dr. Lehmann. Ask how she works, what sessions usually look like, and how you will know whether therapy is helping. Her approach is insight-oriented and integrative, which means looking at your history, relationships and current circumstances while also offering practical feedback and coping skills.
Some people cry through much of a first session; others feel oddly flat or businesslike. Both are common. You do not have to arrive with the right words.
It can help to jot down a few notes beforehand: roughly where you are in treatment, the main worries on your mind, who is helping you, and any questions about how therapy works. If treatment has made it harder to hold onto details, bringing the list means you do not have to rely on memory in the moment.
What sessions can focus on
The content of therapy follows what is most pressing for you. During treatment, that might be fear of what comes next, frustration with your body, or the strain of keeping up a brave face for family. After treatment, it might be fear of recurrence, a changed sense of identity, or relationships that shifted while you were ill. The American Cancer Society describes one-on-one counseling as a chance to focus on your own feelings and concerns, including coping with changes like the end of treatment, family issues, strong feelings, and concerns about intimacy.
Medical questions stay with your oncology team. With your written permission, a psychologist can coordinate with your physicians when that would help. Learn more about cancer-related emotional support with Dr. Lehmann.
Scheduling around treatment
Treatment has its own rhythm, and therapy can work with it. The National Cancer Institute notes that fatigue from chemotherapy follows different patterns for different people: some feel most tired right after each treatment, while others feel worse partway through a course. Fatigue from radiation often builds until about midway through and then stays about the same until treatment ends. NCI also suggests saving your best energy for the activities that matter most to you.
In practice, that can mean booking sessions on the days of the week when you tend to feel clearest, avoiding the day right after an infusion if those days are hard, and revisiting the schedule when your treatment plan changes. It also helps to mention upcoming scans or results appointments, since the days before them are often when support matters most; Scanxiety looks at that particular kind of waiting. Appointments are offered during the day, Monday through Thursday; there are no evening or weekend sessions. Many people meet weekly at first, and you can talk about pace and frequency with Dr. Lehmann at any point.
Cancellations, illness and low-energy days
The practice asks for at least 24 hours' notice to cancel. Cancellations with less notice, and missed appointments, are billed $90 unless the cancellation is due to illness or an emergency. That exception matters during treatment, when a fever, a hospital stay or a sudden bad day can arrive without warning. The full cancellation policy explains how to cancel or reschedule.
Between sessions, keep the roles clear. New or worrying physical symptoms go to your oncology team, using the after-hours number they gave you. The practice is not an emergency service, and messages are answered during office hours, so a note sent on a Friday may not be answered until the following week. If you know a hard stretch of treatment is coming, it can help to plan in a session beforehand how you will look after yourself during it.
Telehealth can help on the in-between days, when you feel well enough to talk but not to drive. Sessions by video are available for clients who are physically in Michigan at the time of the session. Some people switch between the office and video depending on how treatment is going. Telehealth Therapy During Cancer Treatment in Michigan covers privacy and setup in more detail.
Fees, briefly
Private-pay sessions are $220 per clinical hour. The practice is in network with Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, and reduced-fee spots are available on a limited basis. The fees and insurance page has the details, including accepted payment methods.