When you book your initial consultation, or first session, it can feel anxiety provoking or like you are not sure what will happen. This is really common, and others say it can be helpful to know more information about what happens at the first session. Here are details about what to expect from seeing me and how you can prepare ahead of time:

 

• After making a booking, I will send you an email confirming your first appointment details. A few days before your appointment, you will also receive a text confirming the date and time of your first session.

• Some people find it helpful to write down a few points that they want to cover during the first appointment, feel free to do this if helpful.

• It is advisable to arrive on time for your first session to fill in paperwork, including some questionnaires and a consent form.

• We will then start the first session, which runs for 1 hour and 20 minutes. You can expect a thorough and detailed exploration of your current symptoms, you will have an opportunity to talk through what led you to making an appointment and then we can discuss next steps, such as practical strategies to start trying, a treatment plan or referral options.

 

For more commonly asked questions about seeing a psychologist, see FAQs.