What to Expect at an Initial Assessment
Your initial assessments will always involve an in-depth discussion with a psychologist. This gives you the opportunity to talk about what has been troubling you and explain what you would like help with.
In some cases, your psychologist may also suggest completing questionnaires if these are likely to provide additional useful information. These are used to support understanding and not to replace conversation.
Understanding Your Difficulties
During the assessment, the psychologist will focus on the difficulties you are experiencing. They will ask questions to help build a clear understanding of what is going on for you.
It may also be helpful to talk about your past experiences, as these can sometimes play a role in current difficulties. This is always approached sensitively, and you are welcome to share only what feels comfortable for you.
Topics We May Explore Together
Your psychologist may ask about:
- Your own thoughts about what may have led to these difficulties, and what you feel keeps them going;
- How you would like things to be different, and what you feel might help you move forward;
- Any treatments or self-help strategies you have tried before, and how helpful these were for you.
What Happens at the End of the Session
By the end of the first session, your psychologist will discuss next steps with you.
They may suggest spending more time exploring your difficulties in further sessions. Alternatively, they may feel they have enough information to begin developing an initial treatment plan with you.
This plan often includes creating a formulation together. A formulation is a shared understanding of your difficulties — what led up to them and why they continue. This is a collaborative process and provides an opportunity to check that your psychologist has understood you accurately and that the plan feels right for you.