What To Expect From Your First Appointment
If you haven’t attended a therapy session with a perinatal clinical psychologist before, you may be wondering what will actually happen when we meet for the first time.
Do I need to do anything before we meet?
I will ask you to complete two consent forms before we meet. Other than that, you don’t need to do any preparation for our first session together, or even to know exactly what you want to work on or what you want to achieve. You may already have some clear goals for our therapy sessions, but don’t worry if you don’t as we can think about those together when we plan next steps at the end of the appointment.
What will we talk about?
The first appointment is often referred to as an “assessment”, which can sound a bit formal! It is really just a chance for us to get to know one another a bit better and to work out together what kind of support you might need.
We will talk about why you have made the appointment and what life looks like for you at the moment, for example who you live with, daily routines and what you do for work. I will also ask you about your background, for example where you grew up and what life was like for you as a child. I will also ask about your mental and physical health.
You may also have some questions for me too. At the end of the session, we will come up with a plan about how best to move forward.
What if I don’t want to talk about something?
Building trust can take time, and you don’t have to talk about anything that you’re not comfortable with. We will go at your own pace. The first session is about getting a general picture of your life rather than lots of specific details, and I won’t push you to talk about anything you don’t wish to disclose.
Do I need to decide straight away if I want to start therapy sessions?
No, you are welcome to take as much time as you need.
If you do decide you would like to start working together, we would find a regular time to meet, and discuss whether you prefer in-person or online sessions. I usually see my clients weekly to start with, but this can differ for each person depending on things like your working patterns and other life commitments.