There are many doubts that we harbor before the first session with a psychologist, but do not be afraid because he is one more specialist, such as a family doctor, a dentist, a dermatologist or a gynecologist, who will treat you professionally. However, there are many legends surrounding the visit to this professional in charge of diagnosing and curing illnesses such as stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, or relationship or behavioral problems. 
Advice before your first visit to the psychologist
This “dark side” that orbits over the first visit to the psychologist comes, to a large extent, from the images that Hollywood movies have often transmitted to us, and thus some of the questions that many patients ask themselves is “Will there be a couch?” “Where do I sit?” or “Do I speak to myself or does he ask me?” We give you the best advice before your first session with this professional.
- How to choose the best psychologist?
Most of the time what works best is word of mouth, and the saying goes: “The bad known is better than the good to be known”. Surely if you ask in your environment, your best friend, a relative or the neighbor from the fifth, they have done therapy and can recommend someone.
Is there the best professional in this field? Yes, there is, but it may not be the person who has carried out the process of that colleague of yours, because one thing is very important when you start psychological treatment: chemistry has to be created between you, as occurs in relationships, because at that person unknown to you until now, you are going to tell your life in verse and you are going to let him enter to the bottom of your heart. If you are not comfortable, you will not dare to express your concerns.
Another important point before choosing one name or another: that you do not have any type of treatment or relationship with who has advised you and, also, that you have not consulted someone very close to you. During the treatment you can cross aspects in common with the other person and harm you.
- Off nerves
Think that the most important step you have already taken. You have detected that you have a problem (depression, anxiety, shyness…) and you have taken the reins of your life to find a solution. You are very brave! For that alone you already deserve a standing ovation. At a psychologist’s clinic, no one is going to judge you for what you say, on the contrary, it will help you improve your self-esteem, change certain behaviors that are hurting you, or transform those negative thoughts into positive ones to be happy. The nerves are going to be there, in your stomach, because you are going to face a person you know nothing about, but you think the same thing is happening to him. In addition, there is professional secrecy: under no circumstances can this specialist tell what is said there.
- Documentation or medical part
The decision to go to the psychologist, did it come from you or do you go with a medical prescription? In the latter case, if you have a report or some type of clinical history, it would be a good idea to take it with you and present it to the professional, so they will get an idea of where this first session can take place. Also, it does not hurt that before this appointment you do a little memory to detect if you have gone through a similar situation in your past or that you ask your father, mother, siblings or grandparents if they experienced what is happening to you. In the case of depressions, not always, but in some cases there may be a genetic factor.
- Better alone than in company
One of the first ideas that may appear in your head is to go to this first consultation with the psychologist accompanied by someone, to avoid having a “hard time” or feel more secure. Unless it is a very specific circumstance (a small child, a couple or family conflict), it is best that you go alone. Once you break the ice and the psychologist has made a first assessment of your case, he will be the one to determine if, in any future session, someone else should attend the consultation.
- Conversation topics
After “Hello” or “Good morning/afternoon” comes the moment of truth: speak, express yourself, confess, communicate… Perhaps this is the moment most feared by every patient, but you should not worry: do not forget that you are in front of to a professional who works with emotions and who has the tools to bring out the best and the worst in you. He will give you your time (the session usually lasts about 50 minutes) so that you tell him what you want and, also, he will direct the conversation to one side or the other. Here uncomfortable silences will not occur, we assure you!
- More doubts about the first session with the psychologist
Finally, the other three questions that can keep you up at night: “What do I wear?”, “Do I have to lie down, do I stand or sit in a chair?” and “How much does each session cost?” With respect to the first, don’t think about it anymore! Dress as you like that day, with what you feel most comfortable with, with what makes you feel better… No one is going to pay attention to your shirt or pants, they will only try to see inside you. Regarding the second, each office is a world, but we could almost assure that 95% of the offices have chairs or armchairs. And, on the thorny issue of money, it is difficult to give you an amount because each psychologist has a fee, but the average round ranges from 30 euros to 120 euros per session.
And then…
What hasn’t been that long? Why do you notice a great peace and enormous tranquility within you? Surely even the nerves have disappeared and you are looking forward to the next session. The psychologist will be the one who will give you the guidelines on how to proceed from now on: regular visits once a week or more distant, every fortnight. And, maybe, he will even send you “homework”, like a personality test to define certain traits of your character.
Remember that it is a long process that can last weeks (here there are no miraculous treatments of days), months or years and that time always plays in your favor, because from this point you are in you can only get better. Always forward!