Some people are a little apprehensive about their initial visit to see a psychologist because they don t know what to expect. Most people feel considerably relieved after their first visit because an experienced psychologist will make them feel comfortable talking about their problems. An example of what you might expect is my own approach. I use my initial visit to get a clear idea of the problem that brings my patient in and to establish some goals, based on what they want to accomplish. I usually start out by asking a few questions to get some general background information and to find out how they have dealt with their problems in the past, and what the results have been.
People resolve many life problems on their own.
When they find themselves stuck on a disturbing problem in spite of their best efforts to resolve it, professional help may make a big difference. I try to determine why their usual, common sense efforts have been unsuccessful. It is my goal to identify their mistakes and the obstacles that are getting in the way of a successful resolution of the problem and to help them establish some more effective solutions. Problems often treated by psychologists include anxiety, fears, phobias, panic attacks, depression, marital and family problems, sexual problems and other relationship and emotional problems. The professional services of a licensed psychologist are often covered by medical insurance plans.