What Happens in Your First Visit to see a Child Psychologist

As a parent, it can be tough to see your child struggling with emotional or social difficulties. You want to help them, but sometimes it's hard to know where to start. That's where psychological therapy can come in.

If you're considering bringing your child to their first session at Hopscotch and Harmony, it's natural to wonder what to expect. In this blog post, I'll walk you through what your child's first therapy session might look like.

Before the Session

Before the session, you'll have some online forms to fill out. This will include things like your child's medical history, any medications they're taking, and details about their presenting challenges. 

It's important to be as honest and thorough as possible when filling out these forms as the more information your therapist has, the better they'll be able to help your child.

The Initial Session

The first session is usually a parent/carer only session. This is an opportunity for the psychologist to get to know you and to gather more information about your child’s challenges and strengths.

The psychologist may ask you some questions, such as:

• What are your concerns about your child?
• What are your child's strengths and challenges?
• What have you tried in the past to address these issues?
• What are your goals for therapy?

The Therapy Session

After the initial session, your child will begin their therapy sessions. These sessions may be individual, family-based, or a combination of both.

During the first therapy session, your child and the psychologist will likely engage in games and fun activities to begin building rapport and developing a therapeutic alliance. 

It's important to understand that therapy is a process, and it may take time for your child and you to see progress. The psychologist will work with you and your child to set goals and track progress, so you can see how your child is doing.

Taking your child to their first psychological therapy session can feel daunting, but it's an important step towards helping them better understand themselves and improve their well-being. By being open and honest with your psychologist and supporting your child through the process, you can help them build the tools they need to thrive. It might also be helpful to show your child the profile of their clinician on the Hopscotch and Harmony website to help subside any nerves prior to the first session. 

Jacob Spinks
Psychologist

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