New Moon Therapy Preparation Guide: Sacred Steps to Begin Your Healing Journey

A comprehensive guide for highly sensitive people and spiritual seekers who want to align their therapy journey with natural lunar rhythms

This is also available as a free download here.

Welcome to Your Sacred Beginning

Congratulations on choosing to honor your healing journey by aligning it with the powerful energy of the new moon. This guide will walk you through practical and spiritual steps to prepare for beginning therapy in a way that honors both your psychological needs and your spiritual nature.

The new moon represents pure potential—a time when the fertile darkness holds space for new growth. By beginning your therapeutic work during this phase, you're planting seeds in the most supportive cosmic soil possible.

Part I: Inner Preparation (One Week Before New Moon)

Sacred Self-Inventory

Take time for deep reflection about what's calling you toward therapy right now. Use these prompts for journaling or meditation:

Emotional Landscape:

• What emotions have been visiting you most frequently lately?

• Which feelings do you find most difficult to be with or express?

• When do you feel most like yourself versus when do you feel like you're performing?

• What emotional patterns do you notice repeating in your relationships?

Life Patterns:

• What themes keep appearing in your life experiences?

• Which relationships or situations trigger your strongest reactions?

• What dreams or goals feel blocked or out of reach?

• What would you do differently if you felt completely supported and safe?

Spiritual Connection:

• How does your sensitivity show up as both a gift and a challenge?

• What spiritual practices currently support you, and what feels missing?

• How do you want to integrate your spiritual nature with psychological healing?

• What does your intuition tell you about what needs attention in your life?

Family and Ancestry Reflection

Understanding your family patterns can help you prepare for therapeutic work:

Family Emotional Patterns:

• How did your family handle emotions, conflict, and stress?

• What messages did you receive about your sensitivity or emotional needs?

• Which family patterns do you want to continue and which do you want to transform?

• What healing work might benefit not just you but future generations?

Cultural and Spiritual Background:

• How does your cultural background influence your approach to mental health?

• What spiritual or religious beliefs support your healing, and which might create barriers?

• How can you honor your cultural wisdom while embracing psychological growth?

Creating Your Support System

Therapy works best when you have support outside of sessions:

Identifying Your Support Network:

• Who in your life genuinely supports your growth and authenticity?

• Which relationships might resist your changes, and how will you handle that?

• What communities (spiritual, creative, professional) can encourage your healing work?

• Who can you talk to when therapy brings up difficult emotions?

Professional Support Team:

• Do you need additional support from doctors, psychiatrists, or other healers?

• What complementary practices (massage, acupuncture, yoga) might support your therapy?

• How can you create a team approach to your healing rather than relying solely on therapy?

Part II: Practical Preparation

Researching the Right Therapist

Finding a therapist who honors both your psychological and spiritual needs:

Essential Questions for Consultation Calls:

About Their Approach:

• "What's your experience working with highly sensitive people?"

• "How do you integrate spiritual beliefs or practices with therapy?"

• "What's your training in trauma-informed care?"

• "How do you approach clients who process emotions very intensely?"

About Logistics:

• "What does your cancellation policy look like?"

• "How do you handle between-session support or crisis situations?"

• "What should I expect in terms of session frequency and duration of treatment?"

• "Do you offer sliding scale fees or payment plans?"

About Fit:

• "What types of clients do you work best with?"

• "How do you handle it if we don't feel like a good fit?"

• "Can you tell me about how you typically structure the therapeutic process?"

Red Flags to Watch For:

• Dismissing or pathologizing your spiritual experiences

• Rushing to diagnose or prescribe solutions in the first meeting

• Not respecting your pace or processing style

• Making you feel judged for your sensitivity or beliefs

• Lack of trauma-informed understanding

Green Flags to Look For:

• Validates your sensitivity as a natural trait, not a problem

• Shows curiosity about your spiritual practices and beliefs

• Demonstrates trauma-informed language and approaches

• Explains their process clearly and answers questions patiently

• Makes you feel heard and understood in consultation

Practical Logistics Checklist

Insurance and Finances: □ Verify your insurance coverage for mental health services □ Understand your copay, deductible, and out-of-network benefits □ Research sliding scale or low-cost options if needed □ Budget for therapy costs and any complementary services

Scheduling Considerations: □ Identify your most regulated times of day for appointments □ Consider how therapy timing might affect work or family commitments □ Plan for transportation and parking if meeting in person □ Build in buffer time before and after sessions for transition

Privacy and Communication: □ Decide how much you want to share with family/friends about starting therapy □ Set up a private email or phone number if needed for therapy communications □ Consider how to protect your therapy time from interruptions □ Think about how you want to handle work/school scheduling around appointments

Part III: The New Moon Ritual

Creating Sacred Space

Choose a quiet time on the new moon day when you won't be interrupted. Gather:

• A journal and comfortable pen

• A candle (any color that feels meaningful)

• A small bowl of water

• Any crystals, plants, or sacred objects that support you

• Art supplies if you feel called to create

Opening the Sacred Container

Grounding and Centering (5 minutes):

1. Light your candle and take three deep breaths

2. Place your hands on your heart and feel it beating

3. Say aloud or silently: "I honor my courage in seeking healing. I trust my wisdom in knowing it's time for support."

4. Feel your connection to the earth beneath you and the vast sky above

Intention Setting Process (20 minutes)

Step 1: Release and Clear (5 minutes) Write down anything you're ready to release to make space for healing:

• Old patterns that no longer serve you

• Fears about therapy or vulnerability

• Expectations about how healing "should" look

• Any shame about needing support

When finished, safely burn this paper (or tear it up and bury it), saying: "I release what no longer serves my highest good."

Step 2: Heart Desires (10 minutes) Place your hands on your heart and ask: "What does my heart most want from this therapeutic journey?"

Write whatever emerges without editing:

• How you want to feel in your daily life

• What relationships you want to heal or improve

• What aspects of yourself you want to understand better

• How you want to show up in the world

Step 3: Sacred Commitment (5 minutes) Write a commitment to yourself about how you'll approach this therapeutic work:

• Your promise to show up authentically

• How you'll handle difficult emotions that arise

• What support you'll give yourself throughout the process

• How you'll celebrate your growth and courage

Action Step: Making Contact

While still in your sacred space, take the concrete action step:

• Send that first email to a therapist

• Make the phone call to schedule a consultation

• Submit the online contact form

• Book your first appointment

As you take this action, hold your intention consciously and say: "I take this step in alignment with my highest good and deepest healing."

Closing the Ritual (5 minutes)

Integration and Gratitude:

1. Read through what you've written with appreciation for your honesty

2. Thank yourself for your courage in beginning this journey

3. Blow out your candle while setting the intention that your healing work will unfold with perfect timing

4. Keep your written intentions somewhere safe to revisit monthly

Part IV: The Days Following Your New Moon Ritual

Nurturing Your Intention

First Week After New Moon:

• Be extra gentle with yourself as you navigate any emotions that arise

• Continue with consultation calls or first appointments

• Journal about any insights, fears, or excitement that emerges

• Maintain your spiritual practices for grounding and support

Managing Pre-Therapy Anxiety: It's completely normal to feel nervous about starting therapy. Here are some supportive practices:

Somatic Regulation:

• Practice deep breathing exercises daily

• Spend time in nature for nervous system regulation

• Use gentle movement like yoga or walking to process energy

• Take baths with Epsom salts for relaxation

Emotional Support:

• Talk to trusted friends about your feelings (without violating your own privacy needs)

• Practice self-compassion when anxiety arises

• Remember that nervousness often indicates something meaningful and important

• Trust that your therapist is trained to help you navigate these feelings

Preparing for Your First Session

What to Bring:

• Your written intentions from your new moon ritual

• A list of current medications or supplements

• Any previous therapy experiences (what worked, what didn't)

• Questions you want to ask your therapist

What to Expect:

• First sessions typically focus on getting to know each other and establishing goals

• You won't be expected to share everything immediately

• It's normal for first sessions to feel both relieving and overwhelming

• Trust and comfort build over time, not instantly

How to Prepare:

• Get a good night's sleep before your first session

• Eat something nourishing beforehand

• Arrive a few minutes early to settle your nervous system

• Bring water and tissues if you think you might need them

Part V: Monthly New Moon Check-Ins

Creating Ongoing Ritual

Use each new moon as an opportunity to reflect on your therapeutic progress:

Monthly Reflection Questions:

• What insights have emerged since my last new moon check-in?

• How has my relationship with my therapist developed?

• What patterns am I noticing in my healing process?

• What do I want to focus on in the coming month?

• How can I better support my therapeutic work between sessions?

Adjusting Your Course:

• If therapy isn't feeling right, new moons offer natural times to reassess

• Consider whether you need a different therapeutic approach or a different therapist

• Reflect on whether you're giving the process enough time to develop

• Notice if external factors are affecting your therapy experience

Integration Practices

Between Session Support:

• Maintain a therapy journal for insights and questions

• Practice techniques your therapist suggests

• Continue your spiritual practices that support healing

• Notice how therapy insights show up in your daily life

Seasonal Awareness:

• Recognize how different seasons might affect your therapeutic needs

• Adjust your self-care practices based on seasonal energy

• Use seasonal new moons to set different types of therapeutic intentions

• Allow your healing journey to have natural rhythms and cycles

Part VI: Working With Your Therapist Around Spiritual Practices

Sharing Your Spiritual Path

How to Bring Up Spirituality in Therapy:

• "I have spiritual practices that are important to me. I'd like to explore how they can support our work together."

• "My sensitivity and intuition are spiritual gifts for me. Can we talk about how to honor that in therapy?"

• "I work with lunar cycles and natural rhythms. How do you feel about incorporating that awareness into our sessions?"

Setting Expectations:

• Be clear about what spiritual integration means to you

• Respect that your therapist may not share your beliefs while still asking for respect of your practices

• Discuss how spiritual practices can complement, not replace, evidence-based therapeutic work

Finding Balance

What to Expect:

• A good therapist will respect your spiritual beliefs even if they don't share them

• Spiritual practices can enhance therapy but shouldn't be used to avoid difficult psychological work

• Some therapists have specific training in spiritual integration while others are simply respectful

• It's okay to seek referrals if you need more spiritually-informed support

Part VII: Emergency Support and Self-Care

When Therapy Brings Up Intense Emotions

Starting therapy can sometimes intensify emotions before they settle. This is normal, but you need support strategies:

Immediate Self-Soothing:

• Use breathing techniques to regulate your nervous system

• Call a trusted friend or family member

• Engage in gentle physical activity

• Spend time in nature or with animals

• Use creative expression to process emotions

When to Seek Additional Support:

• If you're having thoughts of self-harm

• If anxiety or depression becomes unmanageable

• If you're using substances to cope with therapy emotions

• If you're completely unable to function in daily life

Crisis Resources:

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988

• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

• SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357

• Your local emergency room for immediate crisis support

Maintaining Your Spiritual Practices

Daily Practices for Therapeutic Support:

• Morning intention setting or prayer

• Evening reflection and gratitude

• Regular meditation or mindfulness practice

• Creative expression through art, music, or writing

• Time in nature for grounding and perspective

When Spiritual Practices Feel Difficult:

• Remember that healing can temporarily disrupt established practices

• Be gentle with yourself if meditation feels more challenging

• Adapt practices to your current capacity

• Trust that your spiritual connection will deepen through therapeutic work

Closing Blessing

As you embark on this sacred journey of therapeutic healing, remember that seeking support is an act of courage, not weakness. Your sensitivity is a gift that will serve your healing process, and your spiritual practices will provide additional resources for growth and transformation.

Trust in the perfect timing of your new moon beginning. Trust in your ability to find the right therapeutic support. Most importantly, trust in your own capacity for healing and growth.

May your therapy journey be blessed with insight, compassion, and gentle transformation. May you find the support that honors all aspects of who you are. And may this new moon mark the beginning of profound healing that serves not only your own growth but contributes to the healing of the world.

The seeds you plant in the fertile darkness of this new moon will grow in their own perfect timing. Water them with patience, tend them with consistency, and trust in the wisdom of your own healing process.

Additional Resources

Books for Spiritually-Informed Therapy:

• "The Wise Heart" by Jack Kornfield

• "When the Body Says No" by Gabor Maté

• "Trauma and Recovery" by Judith Herman

• "The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk

Online Directories for Finding Therapists:

• Psychology Today (filter for specialties and approaches)

• Therapy for Black Girls

• Open Path Collective (for sliding scale therapy)

• EMDR International Association (for EMDR therapists)

Apps and Tools for Between-Session Support:

• Insight Timer (for meditation)

• Calm or Headspace (for anxiety support)

• Mood tracking apps to notice patterns

• Journaling apps for processing insights

Ready to start?

If you read this far and feel as sense of recognition-like maybe you’ve found someone who truly understands your sensitive, spiritual nature, while also having the clinical skills to support deep healing-I invite you to book your free consulation!