WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT FROM MY FIRST VISIT?
If you are using mental health plan please have this arranged with your GP before your first visit.
Please check in at reception. It is advisable to pay for the appointment on arrival and then there is no need to check out with reception as you leave.
At the first visit your psychologist will briefly run through important paperwork with you. This will include a consent form (covering issues such as confidentiality and fees).
The remainder of the session will be talking about why you have come to therapy, your current concerns, background, personal circumstances, challenges and what you would like to get from therapy.
I HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR MY CHILD, WHAT DO I INITIALLY NEED TO KNOW?
For the first appointment, the child’s parent/s or carer is required to attend alone to allow an open discussion of the concerns. Typically, the child attends the second appointment.
In some cases, it is decided that it is best to work with the parent and focus on behavioural management strategies.
If a child is over 16 they may attend the first appointment themselves. However, the parents may be invited to participate in a later session.
It is important that we have all contact details of parents/carers of clients under 18. With therapy with children, it is expected that the parent will be very involved and will often be required to attend a duration of the session and then be invited to wait outside.
Confidentiality in the context of multiple parties being involved in the therapy process will be discussed during the initial appointment.
HOW LONG IS AN APPOINTMENT?
Usually a session will last 50mins.
IS THIS CONFIDENTIAL?
Any information disclosed in therapy is treated confidentially (including case notes, records, and psychological test results) and stored accordingly. There are some legal limitations to confidentiality which will be explained to clients in the first session.