It is not easy to decide to contact a psychologist, but there are things that can help you manage the first phone call. In this article, we provide some information about what happens during the first phone call, what to expect, and what to ask the professional psychologist.
I need a psychologist. Call? And what do I say?
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What generally happens during the first phone call with a psychologist
It is not easy to decide to call a psychologist and potentially embark on a journey. To do this, it involves questioning oneself and accepting to discuss complicated aspects of one’s life.
There are things that are good to know and that can facilitate the moment of first contact.
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What do you need to ask yourself before calling
Are you motivated to start therapy? What level of priority will the appointments have in your commitments?
Are you going to see the psychologist encouraged by someone? It is important to seek help, but the difference lies in personal motivation. If you feel that this choice is not entirely yours, it will be more challenging to talk about yourself and to gain self-awareness.
They want me to call a psychologist, but I am skeptical.
It is not the psychologist’s job to convince you to undertake therapy or a path of change. Suppose you think that nothing will help; then nothing will. Motivation also includes an act of trust and self-conviction. “I know I can do this and that it is the right time and the right choice.” You can, of course, have doubts, puzzles, fears, and you can verbalize this to the professional. This will be one of the main steps of the journey: “clarifying ideas” about aspects that are not yet clear.
The first phone call is not the first interview
The first interview is not just a moment where you get to know each other; it is already an important tool that the psychologist uses to get an idea of the problem and possible solutions. Therefore, it is not on the phone — a tool used to arrange the appointment — that you will need to explain the problem in detail. But you can mention it.
Confidentiality is already in action
Everything said in a psychologist’s office remains in the psychologist’s office, protected by professional confidentiality. This rule applies already during the first phone call. What you say and even the simple fact that you requested an appointment cannot and will not be disclosed.
What about pharmacotherapy?
For the psychologist, it is useful to know if you are taking any medications and which ones, information you can already provide over the phone. However, it is not within the psychologist’s tasks and competencies to make decisions or positions regarding therapy provided by a doctor or psychiatrist. If necessary or useful and if you agree, the professional can then communicate with the doctor to align the therapeutic strategy. Remember that the professional will confront you about the decisions to be made. You are an active part of the journey.
You can bring your problem without naming it
It is possible that you have already found information about what you are feeling: for example, anxiety is a fairly well-known symptom, so it is likely that during the phone call you feel like expressing that “you are suffering from anxiety disorders.” However, it is helpful to tell the psychologist what you feel rather than proposing a “self-diagnosis.” This way, you can frame the problem based on your description. Additionally, you can feel free to express your emotions without worrying about using technical language or providing unnecessary information.
What you can ask a psychologist during the first phone call
1. Is the first interview free? How much is it?
Some psychologists adopt the policy of a free first interview, but this is not an obligation for the professional, and whether the interview is free or not does not say anything relevant about the outcome of a potential therapy or the professional’s skills. To avoid embarrassment during the first session, you can openly ask if the professional you have chosen adopts this policy and, if not, what the professional fee is (which we remember is deductible as health expenses).
2. But is this my case?
I want to know if the professional I contacted specifically treats my problem.
You can ask the professional if they have experience, for example, in treating anxiety disorders or for a reference to a site/page where you can find information about their practice.
3. Do you practice hypnosis?
It is possible that you have information (from other people or on your own) about the type of intervention that suits you. The internet now provides a lot of information. Or an acquaintance has successfully used a particular therapeutic practice. No matter how precise the information you have may be, it is always good to let the therapist decide on the methodology to use. If you have heard about a certain approach, then comparing it with the professional is certainly useful. The fact that you can propose a method does not mean that the psychologist should then actually use it if they do not think it is appropriate.
However, active and constructive comparison remains fundamental, the foundational element of the psychological journey.
4. Should I inform my doctor?
It is possible that it is necessary to consult — even before going to the psychologist — a specialist who excludes ongoing organic pathologies that may explain your problem.
Especially in the case of somatic disorders, it is possible that the psychologist, before conducting an interview, needs to rule out the presence of certain illnesses.
However, the presence of illnesses does not exclude the need for psychological support, in order to facilitate, for example, the treatment process, strengthening psychological resources.
What will NOT happen during the first phone call with a psychologist
You will hardly find a psychologist who will give you “advice” over the phone, especially if they do not know the situation thoroughly. And that is good for you. There can be no useful indication on how to act more effectively if you do not have a clear definition of the problem and objectives.
The psychologist does not have superpowers.
For how much a professional is qualified to handle certain difficulties or pathologies, you are actually asking a stranger who knows very little about you what to do.
It is absolutely normal to feel the need for quick and simple answers, but the work of the psychologist is complex, and so is the path of self-knowledge.
Myths to demystify
Does the psychologist “manipulate” and interpret what I say?
The fear that the psychologist will make you do or say things against your will is quite common. The same goes for the fear that your words will be misrepresented or that they will attach a meaning that you do not share at all. Let’s remember that we are talking about a professional who is subject to a strict code of ethics, and whose ethics considers the respect of the person who has asked for help. Moreover, the patient is always an active part of the process and can at any time discuss their doubts and opinions with the psychologist. The relationship of trust and sharing underlies the entire journey taken.
I call my son: is it okay not to tell him he will go to the psychologist?
The belief that the child does not understand the importance of the psychological path is, unfortunately, very widespread. Instead, it is very important to involve him in the decision and to make him feel that he is considered an active participant. As with adults, motivation is very important. Obviously, the words to adopt are important and should be adapted to the age and cognitive level of the child. Again, the professional can help you. It is advisable, but the same psychologist will do this in the first phone call, to conduct at least a first interview in the absence of the minor, to define the best approach. In the case of adolescents, however, it is better to engage them actively right away and, if possible, to let them make the first phone call. If they are a minor, the professional will need the informed consent of both parents or the legal guardian and will interface periodically to discuss the course.
Let’s remember that the child also has the right to confidentiality, which can only be waived in cases of proven danger and risk to the child (for example, intent to harm oneself or suicidal thoughts).
In the “right hands”
When you feel ready to take this step, make sure that the professional is a licensed psychologist by checking their membership in the Order. You have the right to ask for the registration number in the Regional Register of professionals, and the professional has the duty to provide it to you. Trust is a building that is constructed brick by brick.
Thanks to Simona Adelaide Martini for her valuable contribution.
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