By Steph Vialle

Seeing a clinician for the first time can feel exciting or nerve-wracking, or maybe even both (it can sometimes be hard to tell the difference between nerves and excitement)! Knowing what to expect in your first session can be helpful.

Preparing for your first session…

We value your time and, more importantly, we know that reduced wait times help to improve treatment outcomes. To make sure there is no time wasted, we want to check whether we are a good fit for you as soon as we receive your self- or GP referral, and we do this in the quickest and easiest way (online!).

1. You will complete an online triaging questionnaire to helps us match you with a suitable clinician. The more information we have about you, the better!

2. If we can offer you services, you will complete a brief online intake form in preparation for when an appointment becomes available with a suitable clinician. If you are seeking a formal assessment, you will probably complete an extra questionnaire or two as part of your online intake form. It is important to complete your intake form before your first appointment, then we can be sure that you know what you need to know about us and we know what we need to know about you.

Your first session is called an initial intake. The purpose of your initial intake session is to get to know you, what prompted you to book in, and what outcomes you are hoping for. It is also an excellent chance for you to learn how your clinician works and what support they can offer. If you are one to prepare, you may like to think about what you would like to get out of coming to HMC and how you would like things to be different for you.

Before your first session…

When you arrive at a face-to-face appointment, the administration staff will greet you and show you the waiting area and facilities. As you move through the space, you will notice mellow background music that helps to soften other environmental noise. You can choose to make yourself comfortable in a range of seating options in the waiting area (including a massage chair!). You may even like to make yourself a hot drink at the drink station and connect to the free Wi-Fi. The waiting area is designed to be much like a loungeroom, so that you feel at home! If you like to do something while you wait, there are puzzles and books available. There is even a slideshow playing on the big screen, which contains useful information about HMC and curated content…including some memes thrown in for good measure! For your comfort, you will find a small range of personal care items in the all-gender restroom if needed. The administration staff are almost always nearby to assist you, if anything else would make you more comfortable in the space.

When your clinician is ready for you, they will collect you from the waiting area and show you to their confidential consultation room.

Before your telehealth appointment, you will be sent information on how to join your online (video) session. Your personalised URL will take you to a virtual waiting room where your clinician will join you at the appointment time. It is a good idea to plan your appointment at a time when you will not be interrupted and in a space where others cannot overhear your conversation.

During your first session…

The initial intake is often quite different from a usual session.

Your clinician will likely start by introducing themselves and reviewing important information with you. They will talk to you about your right to confidentiality, the situations where confidentiality rules may not apply, and any other key information outlined in the intake forms you completed online. This is an essential part of the initial intake – your clinician is making sure that you have enough information and understanding to consent to the service that will be provided.

Your clinician will typically ask lots of questions, including questions about what is happening for you now and what has happened in the past. These questions help paint a picture of you and your world, currently and historically.

If there is something your clinician has not asked about and you would like to share, you can raise this with them. If you feel uncomfortable answering any questions, you can let your clinician know and they may be able to return to these questions once you have got to know each other better. If you are unsure of something, it is OK to ask your clinician questions. In fact, it is encouraged.

What Next..?

Toward the end of your initial intake, your clinician will talk to you about what may happen next, including whether you would like to book another appointment. If you are seeking a formal assessment, your clinician may provide you with a quote for these services while in the session or as soon as possible after the session.

Are you ready to enquire about an initial session at HMC? You can contact our friendly admin team now to begin the triaging process.

Steph Vialle is a Provisional Psychologist at Healthy Mind Centre Launceston.