Step by step, what to expect at your first appointment.
Starting with a psychologist can feel a little daunting. Here's a practical walk-through — how to get there on the day, and what will happen once we sit down together.
What to expect at your first appointment.
Starting with a psychologist can feel a little daunting, especially if you're not sure what you'll be asked or what the process involves. Your first appointment is a chance for us to get to know you, understand what has brought you here, and work out what will be most helpful.
You will be asked about what your current concerns are and what you're hoping to get from the assessment or support.
You'll likely also be asked some questions about your background and current circumstances, which might include:
- Who you live with and the people around you
- Your education and learning history
- What you currently do for work or study, if relevant
You can ask questions too. There's no expectation that you'll have everything figured out before you arrive.
For ADHD & autism assessments
Our job is to be experts in diagnostic criteria. Your job is to be the expert in you.
You don't need to work out which label fits, know diagnostic criteria, or arrive with a case for why you might be autistic or have ADHD. Our role is to ask the right questions, consider the broader picture, and work out what best explains your experiences.
We'll talk about what has led you to explore neurodiversity, what you've noticed about yourself, and what has made you wonder whether ADHD or autism might help explain your experiences.
The first session is primarily about getting to know you more broadly and understanding what you're looking for. The more detailed assessment interview will usually begin in the second session, where we'll explore your developmental history, experiences and current functioning in greater depth.
For cognitive assessments
For assessments relating to memory, brain injury, stroke or other neurological concerns, we'll talk about the changes you've noticed, your relevant medical and cognitive history, and what you would like the assessment to help clarify.
We'll also discuss what questions the assessment needs to answer and how the results might be useful in your everyday life, work, rehabilitation or future care.
For psychological support
The first session focuses on what has brought you to therapy and what you're currently finding difficult. We'll spend some time getting to know your background and what has shaped your experiences, before focusing on what is happening for you now.
Together, we'll begin identifying support directions.
For cognitive strategies & rehabilitation
We'll start by understanding what has changed or what you're finding difficult in everyday life, as well as what is already working well for you.
From there, we'll work together to develop a practical, tailored plan. We don't just hand you a list of strategies — we work out what will actually fit into your routines, environment and everyday life, and adapt the plan as we go.
Have a question before you come in?
We're happy to answer anything, big or small. Get in touch and we'll get back to you.