Your first meeting with a psychologist: what to know

You do not need a perfectly prepared story

Sometimes people put off a consultation because they do not know how to explain what is wrong. You can start with a specific moment: “Yesterday I could not fall asleep again after a conversation,” “Everything has been irritating me lately,” or “I do not understand why I react this way.” That is enough to begin a conversation.

In our first meeting, we explore what is troubling you now, how it affects your daily life and what you expect from our work. You do not need to fit your whole story into one consultation.

What you can think about beforehand

What situation brings you here now? What has become harder to do? What have you already tried, and was it helpful? What small change would you like to notice first? You can write down your answers for yourself, but you do not have to.

If you have worked with a psychologist before, it can help to share what was useful and what did not suit you. You can also mention any concerns you have about starting again.

Questions worth asking a psychologist

How do you work with concerns like mine? How will we know whether things are changing? What should I do if a session becomes too difficult? What are the arrangements for confidentiality, payment and cancellations?

You can disagree with a proposed explanation or ask for simpler wording. The first meeting also gives you a chance to see whether the specialist’s way of communicating makes sense to you.

What happens at the end

We summarise the conversation and discuss the next step. This may involve further assessment, agreeing on goals or a recommendation to see another specialist. One meeting is not always enough to understand a concern fully.

Read more about working with adults and requesting an appointment.

This article is for information and does not replace an individual consultation.