Going to a psychologist for the first time can be exciting and also scary for some people. Therefore, it’s important to remember a few things that will help guide the first few sessions. These are just helpful reminders for what you can do before your first sessions, since the psychologist should be able to help you properly if he or she is trained correctly – they’re not in order of importance.
1) Refresh your memory of your childhood and your life’s history in general. A lot of times, a psychologist will ask how your childhood was and the years after, depending on the methods of the psychologist. Either way, know the basics of how you came to be. Don’t always rely on what family members tell you either, since that can be biased.
2) Make sure you can tell the psychologist what you’re coming in for. Sometimes this is hard to figure out, since it might be multiple issues, but at least try to pick a main issue you want to work on so the psychologist can help you start on something. Figuring out the rest of what you want to work on can be a work in progress and sometimes changes, so keep your psychologist up-to-date.
3) Figure out what your method of payment is and if the psychologist you want takes insurance (if you have insurance). Psychologists who don’t take insurance can be pricey (hundreds of dollars per hour), so just keep that in mind.
4) Know some family health history beforehand. Does your mom or dad have anxiety or depression or ADD? Talk to different family members and see if they know if your family has a history of mental illness and if anyone has been diagnosed.
5) If you’ve been to other psychologists, bring that knowledge with you. For example, another psychologist could’ve diagnosed you with anxiety, but maybe you didn’t like his or her style. Let your new psychologist know what didn’t work last time and if you’ve already been diagnosed.
6) Have an idea of what kind of treatment you want because there are different methods psychologists use. This might require some research. For example, some psychologists might look heavily into your past to find what’s causing problems now, some might have you talk about your problems in a group of other people with similar problems, and some might focus on a specific behavior and try to change that. Just have a basic idea of what you want to do, and it might make it easier to decide if the psychologist is the best fit for you.
7) Realize that even though you’re opening up to a stranger, psychologists have ethics and standards that they follow. Most of the information you give them is confidential, unless you’re endangering yourself or someone else.
8) Although you can do this at a later date, try to get a physical exam before making an appointment with a psychologist. Depending on what you’re going to the psychologist for, a physical exam could rule out potential mental health issues and get you the treatment you need. For example, thyroid problems can lead to depression and sometimes anxiety, so figuring that out before going to a psychologist could save you a trip and money, or even the frustration of trying to fix your problems in the wrong way.
Here is some advice from experts:
“The patient should be completely open and tell the therapist what brought them in, the most pressing issue,” said Carole Morgan, a psychologist in California, in an e-mail. “I always encourage patients to be open and honest about their problem/s.”
She added that there are some steps to finding the best fit.
“Most patients do not know quite how therapy works or much about different therapies to make an informed choice,” Morgan said. “Getting a referral from a friend or other doctor who knows the therapist is often helpful.”
One psychologist, Stephanie Smith, wrote on the site www.yourmindyourbody.org that patients should bring water since there is a lot of talking involved (although generally the psychologist can provide that), pen and paper to take notes, and a calendar on which to write down future sessions.
Alice Boyes, a clinical psychologist in New Zealand, wrote on her website that patients “don’t need to worry about whether I’m going to judge you negatively.” Also, she suggests that clients tell her when she’s not understanding what they’re saying or doing something they don’t like.
Boyes added on her website that seeing a clinical psychologist might be the best option, since they tend to have more training and are up-to-date on research that can improve the types of therapy patients receive (which includes patients having better results from therapy).
Have you ever been to a psychologist? If so, what tips do you have?
Sources:
http://www.yourmindyourbody.org/your-first-session-with-a-psychologist-what-to-bring/
http://www.aliceboyes.com/seeing-a-psychologist/