What to Expect in your First Therapy Session?

It is exceedingly normal that the first session with a new psychologist can lead to some significant anxiety. Below is a guide on what to expect in your initial session to help alleviate some of the first session butterfly’s.

At this point, you will have received a referral, probably from your GP, and scheduled your initial appointment. Great job, the hardest steps are already done! If you’d like more details on obtaining a referral to a psychologist, or finding a psychologist, you can refer to my other posts.

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#1 What to bring to my first therapy session?

The most important thing to bring is you. If you have a paper copy of your GP referral it can be a good idea to bring this along in case your psychologist hasn’t already received it from the GP clinic, although this isn’t essential. I’d also recommend bringing along your Medicare card or Private Health Insurance card so the clinic can process your rebates faster.

#2 Do I need to prepare before the first session?

It can be a good idea to spend some time thinking about what you would like help with in therapy prior to the initial session. Having an understanding of this before your first session can assist in guiding the psychologist and aide in establishing a shared goal for therapy and what treatment will look like moving forward.

#3 What is the Psychologist going to Ask Me?

Typically in the first session the psychologist will ask you questions about what has brought you to therapy, whether you have been to therapy in the past, your current life experiences and your history related to growing up, schooling, occupation, and relationships. Don’t worry if this sounds overwhelming, you certainly don’t have to recall everything in your first session, just a general overview of these areas will be helpful. You may wish to go further into some of these areas at a later point in the therapy process.

The first session is also a chance for you to ask the psychologist any questions you may have for them and for you to determine if it’s the right fit for you.

#4 What do I need to do after my first session?

Congratulate yourself for taking the leap and attending your first session and tolerating the anxiety along the way. You may have some homework to complete after the initial session but if not you can sit back and relax until your next appointment.