With a psychologist the first session is a crucial step meeting that allows the patient and the therapist to understand each other, introduce themselves and define their needs. It happens often the moment of the anamnesisthat is, a review of the patient’s antecedents and past.
What do we tell the psychologist during the first meeting? How to prepare?
Émilie Garnier, clinical psychologist and psychotherapist explains:
“ In the first meeting, the psychologist welcomes the patient’s request, questions him about his past history, and guides him according to his concerns and expectations.
This first consultation aims to highlight a request, i.e. the objective of the follow-up for the patient, and to evaluate with the psychologist the most suitable type of follow-up (or therapy).
The psychologist will guide the patient to take stock of his development, to retrace his personal, family, sentimental and professional journey, to evaluate how to best support him in the face of the difficulties he encounters. »
For her, the first session allows the patient to do this ask all the questions that concern him.
“ There is never a “good” or “bad” question. Value judgment does not exist in psychological monitoring. »
According to Karen Demange, a psychologist specializing in eating disorders, therapy must be based on a climate of trust : “ the patient must feel welcomed without judgment and have the feeling of being supported in their journey towards wellbeing. »
This can also be an opportunity to find out if your future psychologist is knowledgeable or unstructured about issues/problems that concern you.
Also ask questions before the first session
According to psychologist Karen Demange, before even thinking about what you will say during the first meeting, Best of all, you can ask your future therapist questions ahead of time.
The target ? Don’t have any unpleasant surprises when the day comes. It would be a shame to fall from the cloudsonce sitting on the psychologist’s couch, faced with the prices of consultancy or setting foot in a practice whose specialization or method does not correspond to your expectations!
You can, for example, contact your future psychologist by phone or email and ask him practical questions: what prices do you charge? How long does a session last? Should I get a referral/recommendation from a doctor? Are the sessions reimbursed? Or: what are your specializations?
This can also be an opportunity to find out if your future psychologist is informed or deconstructed about questions/issues that concern you (for this reason it can also be a good idea to consult reviews on the Internet).
Question the structure of therapy
Ideally, you have to ask yourself all the questions that come into your head to establish a bond of trust with your psychologist and know if you are in line with his way of working.
Among others, Karen Demange recommends asking the following questions:
- How often should we see each other?
- How long does therapy usually last? (The answer is often difficult to determine, don’t be surprised!)
- Can you treat “any condition” or just mine?
You can ask your psychologist lots of questions! Often, the purpose of these questions is to reassure you. Karen Demange explains:
“The typical response a psychologist would give to most open-ended questions is: ‘Why are you asking me this question? What do you expect from the answer?”
Yes, that’s the kind of phrase that’s a little cliché! The goal is not to play or not answer the question, but to understand what lies behind it: the need to be reassured, to know if the psychologist maintains professional secrecy, to know if we are alone in the world to have this worry…”
Can I negotiate the price of the consultancy?
It happens to some or certain psychologists to do this offer reduced rates depending on your financial situation of their patients, but this depends on the will of each professional. Some therapists even offer prices for students. Details by Karen Demange:
“ It also happens that the price is reduced during therapy when the patient’s possibilities have changed and the price no longer allows regular monitoring. The therapist may decide to reduce the price of the consultation to ensure continuity of follow-up. »
Share your expectations
During the sessions, and in particular the first, the psychologist will also ask you questions to know where you are. If there is no pre-established questionnaire, your psychologist will want it learn more about you and your needs. He or she might ask you:
- How can I help you ?
- Why did you decide to do a consultancy?
- What do you expect from the psychological follow-up?
For Karen Demange, It is above all up to the therapist to adapt to the patient and not vice versa. So don’t panic! And if the psychologist leads the session, don’t hesitate to tell him your personal expectations. The psychologist specifies:
“I always ask my patients what their expectations are in order to best respond to their requests. This is an aspect we think about together during the first session, above all to check that we are on the same page. »
If something doesn’t satisfy you or bothers you: express it!
Talk about your doubts and fears
“ The patient’s experience and his subjectivity are at the center of the work to allow him to better understand himself and access better personal development. », explains Émilie Garnier.
Therefore, if something doesn’t satisfy you or bothers you: express it! And if doing it face-to-face is intimidating, use email before your first session. Silencing your fear about therapy or your experience won’t work in your favor.
However, if you still don’t feel confident enough to do this at the first meeting, wait a while until you get to know your therapist better. maybe things will be easier to express with time. And if after several sessions you still don’t feel comfortable, maybe your therapist isn’t right for you andIs it time to change it?
Can you ask your psychologist personal questions?
“ How are you today ? How long have you been a psychologist? What are your qualifications? What university did you attend? Do you have children? »
Whether it’s out of pure curiosity or give you confidence, are you wondering if you can ask your psychologist these types of questions? For Karen Demange, it is normally agreed that no. You can still try, and maybe he or she will get back to you! She details:
«It will obviously depend on the question, but also on the fact that we are there to talk about the patient and not the therapist.
Once again the psychologist can rephrase asking why you are asking this question as well as how he can answer it. Sometimes the psychologist can talk about himself to give an example, a path.
But the therapist must always keep in mind that he is the person who is there to help others and not vice versa. »
Finally, you can ask as many questions as you want during the first visit the psychologist is free to answer… or not!
Photo credits: SHVETS production (Pexels)
Listen to Apéro des Daronnes, Madmoizelle’s show that aims to break down taboos on parenting.
Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
