What to expect at your first appointment

After you have made your first appointment you may receive a confirmation letter, or email confirming your appointment time, the cost, and our location details.

It is understandable that you may feel a little uncertain or apprehensive about what to expect at your first psychology appointment. After meeting your psychologist in our waiting room you will be invited to take a seat in one of the private consulting rooms. If you have been referred by another health practitioner (e.g., a GP) your psychologist will ask for the referral letter, so please make sure you bring this information with you. If you are intending to claim through private health insurance please confirm your eligibility for psychology services with your health fund before arriving.

Generally the first few minutes of this session are spent completing important paperwork. You will be given a form that requests basic background information (name, date of birth, address, phone number, doctor, etc). The beginning of the first session is also when the psychologist will discuss confidentiality, the privacy of your records, fees and payment options, and any future correspondence with your doctor/referrer.

In order to provide the most appropriate treatment for your concerns, the psychologist will need to gain a thorough understanding of the difficulties you have been experiencing. During the first session this usually involves talking about when and how your symptoms developed, as well as a discussion about any helpful or unhelpful steps you have already taken to alleviate the problem. The psychologist may also ask questions about your personal history (e.g., work, education, family, relationships, etc). Although it can sometimes feel a little strange to be discussing your private details with another person, please be assured that the information you provide helps to tailor your assessment and treatment program.

By the end of the first session your psychologist will usually have a good understanding of the difficulties you have been experiencing and the general direction you would like to move during therapy. Based on this information, your psychologist will collaborate with you to develop a flexible treatment plan which can be adapted (if necessary) as sessions progress.

Additional notes for parents:

If you are the parent of a child or adolescent who is attending an initial appointment, you can expect that the psychologist may wish to spend some time talking to you and your child individually, as well as together. This gives parents the opportunity to speak openly with the psychologist about any concerns they have about their child and also allows the psychologist to gather valuable information from the young person’s perspective.