What to Expect from Your First Session With a Psychologist.

People seek support from a psychologist for a number of reasons, e.g. feelings of depression, anxiety, relationship issues, eating difficulties, work stress. The decision to see a psychologist can be a difficult one; the idea of talking to a stranger about very personal things can be daunting, but it can also be a positive experience. Fact is, psychological treatment can be very effective and people are often glad that they decided to seek help. So if you have been thinking about seeking professional help and have no idea of what to expect, here are the answers to three common questions about starting therapy.

How will I feel?

It’s normal to feel anxious at your first appointment. Just like when you go to the doctor or dentist, seeing a mental health professional is not usually something you look forward to doing. Most psychologists understand how hard it is for people to make that first step and should have the skills to help make you more at ease. You needn’t feel ashamed about feeling nervous, it’s a normal feeling to have, but rather than fight your anxiety or see is as a reason not to go, try accepting it as part of the process. You might be glad you did.

What should I talk about?

The first session in psychological treatment is usually described as an assessment, which means gathering as much information about your main concerns so that your therapist can get a good sense of how they can help you and what the best approach for your treatment might be. Even though psychologists will mostly focus on the current problem, they will usually ask you a few questions about your childhood and family background to understand your development a little better.

Some people go into therapy knowing exactly what the problem is and what they want help with. Others might know that there is something wrong but are not sure exactly what it is or how to describe it. A psychologist’s job is to know what questions to ask, so you can rest assured that if you are worried you won’t know what to say, your psychologist will guide that first session. And although it’s important to be as open as possible, some things are easier to talk about once a bit more trust has been established. So it’s up to you to share as much or as little as you feel comfortable to.

When will I start to feel better?

Talking about things that worry or upset you can cause those uncomfortable feelings we try to push away to surface. This explains why some people leave their first appointment not really feeling any better. The first session is also mostly about gathering information, and actual treatment only really starts in the second session, which is also why it’s important not to expect to feel much different after your first session.

The amount of time or number of sessions it takes to start noticing an improvement really depends on the problem that you’re seeking help for. With some problems like mild depression or mild anxiety disorders, you could start to notice an improvement as early as session 4, whilst other difficulties like trauma can take longer. Your psychologist should be able to give you guidance around this after your first few sessions.