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What to expect in the first session of counselling

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Making an appointment and attending the appointment for the first time is hard. Often it means acknowledging that something is not quite right or there is a problem that won't go away by itself. That can be very challenging to admit. For some, they worry that the psychologist will judge them. A lot of people don't know how to put how they feel into words, and that can stop them attending. 

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What to expect at the first session

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The first appointment is very different from other appointments. It's a lot more formal, where the psychologist will explain issues around confidentiality and consent to release information. Typically, the first appointment is more of an assessment, where the psychologist will ask a lot of questions to get a good understanding of the problem as well as other factors that might be contributing to the issue. It's also an opportunity for you to get to know the psychologist and whether you feel you will be a fit and can work together.

The psychologist will likely give you some feedback on what you discussed in the appointment, but you may not get a clear plan of treatment after the first session. This is important to acknowledge, because sometimes the issue is quite complex and you may need another session to get a clearer picture of the problem. But, hopefully you've finished the first session with a sense that the psychologist understands the problem.

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It can be hard to put feelings into words

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Sometimes it's difficult to find the right words or a way to express your feelings about the problem. Part of the process of therapy is working through this difficulty, finding the words, and putting the problem into context. Talking about the problem and having it reflected back can be therapeutic in itself. It allows you to fully explore the issue in a way that you can't do by just thinking about it. The process of seeing a psychologist is somewhat different from seeing other health professionals where the process of discussing the issue, helping through pain points and blocks, is collaborative rather than receiving expert opinion. 

 

Sometimes it hurts to express the feelings

 

Our brain is a truly amazing thing in that it can avoid processing painful emotions even when we are thinking about the problem. In a therapy session with a psychologist, however, when we discuss the problem and the associated emotions we then activate this part of the brain and as a result, we can experience intense emotional responses. Although it is hard, and maybe even painful, this is where the healing can occur, and working with a psychologist to help manage the feelings so you are not overwhelmed.

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Talking to a psychologist is different to talking to a friend

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Your psychologist is not your friend. They will most likely be very friendly towards you and caring, but they are not your friend. What I mean by that is that when we speak to our friends, it is often a two-way communication experience - you tell your friend something, they listen, are sympathetic, maybe give advice, then talk about their experience or problem and there is a back and forth process in the conversation. With a psychologist, the interaction is not two-ways. You communicate, the psychologist reflects what you've said, asks clarifying questions, gives interpretations, asks your opinion, and maybe asks you to think about it some more in between appointments. The psychologist also has no interactions with you outside of these times, they don't know the people you are talking about, which means you can be more candid than you might be with a friend. They may even be more provocative than your friends - asking you to reflect on your own behaviours or coping responses.

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Why it's worth it

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It can be very challenging in making the decision to go and see a psychologist. However, the pay-off is that you can process difficult emotions or thoughts, and learn new ways to cope, that perhaps you were unable to by yourself. Taking time to explore issues about your life also opens up new opportunities to perhaps do things differently and achieve different results, for example finding out what is holding you back in making new friends or going for a promotion at work.

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If you've made the first step of booking an appointment with a psychologist, then I congratulate you. When you follow through and attend, make sure afterwards that you congratulate yourself and pat yourself on the back. 

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You can learn more about our psychologists or how to make an appointment by clicking on the button below. 

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What we don't do

 

At Grove Psychology, we pride ourselves on helping our clients overcome their difficulties and improve their wellbeing. But there are a few things that we aren't able to do. 

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Formal assessments

We don't do formal assessments at Grove Psychology, such as cognitive testing or assessments for Autism. As this is not our core business, we encourage clients to seek psychologists who specialise in these areas.

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Write reports or letters

As our core business is helping our clients improve their wellbeing and mental health, our efforts go into the therapeutic process. We don't write reports or letters as a matter of course. From time to time, these may be necessary, and they occur a fee to cover the cost of time taken to prepare the report. This is charged at the current APS recommended rate. 

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