Coming to see a psychologist
Coming to see a psychologist may be a daunting and confronting experience. You may be feeling a variety of emotions, nervousness, fear, anger or embarrassment. All these emotions are completely normal and remember that you have already taken the first step (which can be the hardest) by reaching out for help.
It may feel strange sharing your innermost thoughts with a stranger; however you have control over what you are willing to share in your own time. Psychologists are there to help and support you during this challenging time. The information that you disclose in your session with a psychologist is confidential. There are two exceptions to this; if you are at risk of harm to yourself or someone else and in relation to court orders. Your psychologists will discuss this with you if either of these situations arise.
During the initial consultation, your psychologist will ask you about the difficulties you are experiencing and what you would like support with. We may ask about your past, changes in your life and things that you have tried before. Our aim is to understand what factors may be contributing to how you feel and work with you to plan sessions to support your needs.
Future sessions provide a space for learning about psychological difficulties, discussing and working through problems, and receiving emotional support and guidance to allow you to make positive changes.
Sometimes people come to psychologists;
to seek an assessment or to discuss a diagnosis,
for a handful of sessions to speak about a specific issue in their life or to talk through a particular concern,
for frequent sessions to understand long-standing patterns (such as relationship issues) that stem from experiences during their childhood,
or to receive ongoing regular support for a variety of reasons.
Consultations with a psychologist can also be a great space for self-discovery, self-development and growth. Psychologists have different personalities and different treatment approaches. Finding a psychologist that you can connect with and feel comfortable with is important. Sometimes this does not happen straight away and it may take a few attempts to find the right fit!
If you have other questions regarding seeing a psychologist, please contact us.
MDP Team
