What to Expect From Your First Session

The first therapy session primarily focuses on establishing a connection, understanding your concerns, and setting the groundwork for future sessions. The first session is an opportunity for your psychologist to get to know you and your concerns better. It's also a chance to assess whether you feel comfortable and connected with the psychologist.

During the initial session, your psychologist will ask you to complete a questionnaire and gather relevant information about your background, medical history, and reason for seeking therapy.

Your psychologist will invite you to discuss the concerns or issues that brought you to therapy and may ask specific questions about your personal history, relationships, family background, and any previous experiences with therapy or mental health treatment. This information helps them develop a comprehensive understanding of your situation.

Based on the information you provide and their assessment, your psychologist will discuss potential treatment options with you. They may explain different therapeutic approaches and how they could be beneficial for your specific concerns.

Your psychologist will discuss the frequency and duration of therapy sessions and provide you with an opportunity to ask questions, seek clarification, or express any concerns you may have about the therapy process.

What is the Cognitive and Educational Assessment Process?

1. Referral and information gathering: The assessment process begins with a referral from a healthcare professional, such as a paediatrician, psychiatrist, psychologist, or educational specialist. The individual seeking assessment or their parent/guardian may also initiate the process. During the intake, your psychologist will collect relevant information about the individual's background, medical history, current concerns, and any specific goals for the assessment. Depending on the type of assessment, relevant documents, such as previous assessments, school records, and Individualised Education Programs, may also be collected.

2. Initial interview: Your psychologist conducts an initial interview to gather detailed information about your cognitive, emotional, and behavioural functioning. This interview may involve questions about the individual's developmental history, educational background, occupational functioning, and any relevant medical or psychiatric conditions. For educational assessments, obtaining a student's educational history, developmental milestones, and learning experiences helps form a comprehensive picture of the individual’s academic and learning needs.

3. Selection of assessment tools: Based on your specific concerns and the referral question, the clinician selects appropriate assessment tools. These can include standardised tests, questionnaires, checklists, and observational measures. The selection may vary depending on the individual's age, presenting issues and areas of concern.

4. Administration of tests: The clinician administers the selected cognitive assessment tools to the individual. This may involve a series of tasks, questions, or exercises designed to measure different cognitive and educational abilities. The tests are typically conducted in a quiet and controlled environment.

5. Scoring and interpretation: After the assessment is completed, your psychologist scores the tests and analyses the results. They compare performance to standardised norms. This analysis provides information about the individual's cognitive and educational strengths and weaknesses.

6. Report writing: Your psychologist will prepare a comprehensive report summarising the assessment findings, interpretation of test results, and diagnostic impressions (if applicable). The report includes recommendations for intervention, treatment planning, and any accommodations or support strategies that may be helpful.

7. Feedback session: Your psychologist schedules a feedback session to discuss the assessment results and recommendations with the individual or their parent/guardian. This session provides an opportunity to clarify any questions or concerns, discuss the implications of the findings, and collaboratively develop a plan for intervention or further assessment if needed.