How to prepare for an appointment with a psychologist?
Coming to an appointment with a psychologist can cause questions and uncertainty – what to expect, how to prepare? It is important to remember that a psychologist comes to help you. Knowing how you’re feeling and how it’s changing can help the specialist better understand how to support you and what solutions to offer.
1. Pay attention to patterns – try to remember when depression or anxiety started and if there were periods when they became more intense.
2. Keep a mood diary – if possible, write down your daily mood on a scale of 1 to 10 before your appointment so that the psychologist can better understand your situation.
3. Map your triggers – make a list of situations, activities, or people that either make you feel worse or help you overcome anxiety and depression.
4. Come with an escort – if you find it difficult to talk about your condition, a first meeting with a trusted person or family member can help.
5. Share your past experiences – if you’ve already received help,
Think about what helped you and what obstacles you faced to find the best solution this time.
6. Assess your resources – what helps you in difficult times? What can interfere with therapy? Knowing this will help you better guide your therapy.
7. Be open to change – therapy may require homework and abandoning habitual thought patterns. Be ready to try new approaches.
8. If you have suicidal thoughts – If you have specific suicidal thoughts, we recommend that you seek help from a psychiatrist or crisis counselor first to get the support you need quickly.
Therapy is a step towards feeling better, and the more informed you are, the more benefits you will get!
Make an appointment HERE.