Going to a psychologist for the first time.

“I tried to do some research about what to expect from the appointment… but I couldn't actually find much. Most of it was around questions to ask a psychologist, which while helpful, didn't really explain what to expect when I was there.”

Content warning for mental health and medical discussion.

I had my first appointment with my new psychologist yesterday! Ultimately, it was a really good experience - while I don't think she's going to be as in-tune with me as my previous psychologist (who specialised in working with Autistic adults), she want to take a strengths-based approach to our appointment (meaning she'll focus on what I'm good at and help me to build confidence, which is something I would find really helpful) and talked about the social model of disability which I'm all about. So that's awesome!

Before I went in, I tried to do some research about what to expect from the appointment since I hadn't had a new psychologist in a long time, but I couldn't actually find much. Most of it was questions to ask a psychologist, which while helpful, didn't really explain what to expect when I was there. So I thought outlining what that first appointment was like might be helpful! Of course, all appointments are different, and this is only what one experience is like (I'm also Australian, so there's quite possibly some differences depending on where you live as well).

When I arrived in the waiting room, I had a couple of forms to fill out. One was about my details (so my name, address, phone number, emergency contact and so on), with another form for me to sign that explained things like the fees and how to cancel appointments. It also asked me what I was coming to the appointment for, and what I wanted to achieve out of therapy - I left the second question blank because I wasn't sure what to put, and for the first question I wrote why my doctor had given me a referral.

The other main form I got was the DASS Response Form, which is pretty standard and I've gotten before at doctor's offices, psychologist offices and the like. It asks about how you've been feeling over the past few weeks and helps to give people a general snapshot of how you're doing at the moment. This isn't something you really need to agonize over, which I've definitely done in the past - you can just go with your first instinct or alternatively, skip a question if you're really unsure of how to answer or don't understand the question.

Once I actually went in (after we had introduced ourselves and she asked if she could take notes, which was fine with me), we went into her office and she mostly led the conversation (how she described it was that she was 'filling gaps in' for what she needed to know). This included:

• Why did I see my original psychologist?

• What progress had she and I made together?

• What were we working on together at our last appointment?

From here, she asked general questions about my work, my relationship with my partner, how I felt about my different diagnoses (which might seem like an odd question, but some people might have received misdiagnosis, or might still be 'processing' what a diagnosis means for them, so it's a good thing to ask!) and what my day-to-day life looked like.

She also asked about my hobbies and my general well-being: so questions about what medication I take, whether I smoke or drink and how often, whether I have regular health check-ups, if I sleep regularly and get my three meals a day. Again, these might seem like odd questions, but it helps give an overall picture of your well-being, and none of these questions were asked judgmentally.

Lastly, we did talk about the specifics of my mental health, like what my current burnout level looked like on a scale of 0 to 10; whether I'd had any crises recently or felt really overwhelmed/hopeless; and about self harm and suicidal ideation. These questions are important but can be kind of jarring if you're not expecting them, so it's worth knowing it's something that may be asked.

In the final part of the appointment she outlined the approach she wanted us to take (here's where the discussion of a strengths-based approach came in), which is more like a suggestion. You can ask to focus on something different or for a different approach. I received a bit of homework (so in this case, she wants me to go for a walk) and talked about trying a breathing exercise next time I came in to help with panic attacks.

Lastly, we talked about how often I'd like to meet, and booked in an appointment for next time. And that was it!

The appointment was an hour long which is pretty standard, and the time goes by pretty fast. It's also not as scary as you might think - really it just feels like having a conversation, and you don't have to go into or talk about subjects you don't want to or you're not ready for.

That said, it's natural to be nervous! Even though I've been seeing psychologists for over a decade, I still got really anxious about going to see someone new. So if you're feeling nervous about an appointment, you're not alone.

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