What should I expect from my first counselling and psychological therapy session?

Your psychologist will:

• Introduce themselves, how they work, their training and experience

• Provide information about the counselling and therapy process

• Answer any questions you may have

• Put you at ease

• Treat you with respect

• Invite you to discuss what issues you would like to work on in counselling

• Ask you some questions to better assess these issues

• Provide you with a summary of their professional opinion so far

• Provide you with information about treatment options

• Work with you to formulate specific goals for your work together

• Offer you a regular appointment time to work on these goals and issues

• Ask for your feedback on how the session went

• Ask for your commitment to the counselling and therapy process

During your first session, the counsellor / psychologist will also provide you with information about crisis management, confidentiality, cancellation policy and any other "house-keeping" issues. Feel free to ask as many questions as you like. You are also welcome to take notes during your session. A lot will be covered during your counselling sessions and it will be hard to remember it all. We recommend you keep a therapy journal where you can capture notes during sessions, as well as note down observations between sessions as well as any between-session exercises.

To read The Australian Psychological Society charter for clients click here.

To view all available appointments and to book a consultation securely online, please click here.