A lot of people are scared to see a Psychologist as they worry about the questions they may be asked.  Initially a Psychologist will ask a standard set of questions which they ask all the people who come to see them.  This process is the same if you see a Psychologist in person or via Telehealth.

Particularly in the first few sessions your Psychologist will ask you a lot of questions.  This is a process of getting to know you and clearly understand what is happening in your life.

First Appointment

In the first appointment your Psychologist will ask questions about your medical history/physical health, mental health
history, alcohol and drug use, career or schooling, early life, finances, family relationships and other close relationships.  They will also ask you a lot of questions regarding the reason you came to see them to get a good understanding of this issue and its impact on your life.  They will ask you questions about your current life as well as questions about all the different life stages you have been through.  This is because your current symptoms can be impacted by previous events.

Common Questions Your Psychologist Will Ask:

1. What brought you to see me today?

2. What would you like to focus on?

3. Have you had any really sad or scary things happen to you?

4. What are your goals, hopes, dreams for your future?

5. What are the things you like about yourself?

6. What makes you most content/happy in your life?

7. What does that mean for you? How has that affected you? What impact did that have on your life?

They will also ask you if you have any thoughts of harming yourself or others.  It is important you answer these truthfully as they can help you if you are suicidal.

If there are topics you don’t want to discuss you can let the Psychologist know this.  You may also want to get to know and trust your psychologist before you discuss difficult topics.  It is very helpful if you tell your psychologist that there are some topics which you do not feel comfortable discussing at first.

What Happens After The Assessment

From your answers to these questions your Psychologist develops an understanding of what is happening for you (formulation).  Your psychologist won’t just spend the time during your session thinking about you but will reflect on your situation in between your appointments.  They will consider your experiences in the context of their experiences, research and theoretical understanding.  They bring this all together in a formulation or short story which they will share with you and can help to guide treatment.  The goal is that the formulation helps you understand the targets of treatment.

From this story or formulation your Psychologist will be able to identify what types of treatment or skills might assist you.  This is an opportunity to learn more about yourself in a safe and supportive environment.

The process of assessment should be one which helps you to gain a coherent narrative or story of your situation.  Understanding why you feel, act or think in a certain way should be an empowering process.  Being able to communicate this story and have another person hear your story is an important part of the therapeutic process.

Remember you can ask questions too.  You can often learn a lot by asking why a Psychologist is asking a certain question in terms of the importance of this on your mental health.

If there is anything you think is important and your Psychologist does not ask about it please ensure you let them know.  Even if they did not ask about a certain topic if its important to you then they will want to know about it.