“How do I prepare to speak to a psychologist about my depression?”

Dear Madam/Sir:

I am sorry to hear that you are feeling depressed. YOU have brought up an excellent point as sometimes when in a Dr. 's office you may be a little nervous the first time. So, I would suggest you write down everything that you need to cover in the session, including your feelings, your thoughts, your symptoms, how long you have been suffering, what you have done to feel better including exercise, healthy meals, getting enough sleep, any family history of depression, how does your depression affect your school, work, relationships, etc.

In case you have forgotten something you can always bring it up in the next session. So it may be a good idea to keep a daily Journal of your daily habits of eating, sleeping, social media, game playing, etc., to see what changes you can make to feel better.  I would also recommend read "Feeling Good" by Dr. David Burns and do the assignments given in the book. There is another good book called "Mindful Way through Depression".

Take care,

Dr. Lata Sonpal

You can start by writing your thoughts, your simptoms and your problems. Organize them in order of your needs. Write how many times a day or how many days aweek or a month yor symtoms appears. Determine if you want a male or female therapist. Remember he( she) is a professional in his work and is there to help you. Relax. Rember that the first section is important to develop empathy. Try to enjoy the process.

Don't. Just go. Tell the truth and get to the point. If you have insurance, bring your card and your driver's license. You are all you need.

Whenever you meet with a psychologist, it is important to be open and honest. Although this professional may in fact be a stranger, the more details you can provide the better she can help you. It is also helpful for you to pay attention to yourself i.e. your feelings, behaviors and thoughts prior to your session. For example can you stop for 45 seconds three or four times a day and ask yourself how you feel right now? You may discover you feel better or worse during certain times of the day or engaged in certain activities.

In addition, pay attention to your daily routine. How are you sleeping, how are you eating, do you have more or less energy than you usually do. Are you able to focus at home and at work, and with your family and friends in a manner that is satisfactory to you.

Last, following your initial meetings with the psychologist, resist rushing off ti continue your busy day. Resist getting on your phone to distract yourself. Rather, stop and think about how you feel, about what was discussed, and your reactions to the meeting.

Hope this was helpful, and you feel better soon.

Sharon Gordetsky, PhD

Your psychologist will appreciate your desire to provide information that helps him or her understand you and your difficulties to better help you. You should feel free to express to the psychologist your concern of having time to communicate all the details. To help you prioritize them, you might consider writing them down. If you do not have time to discuss all the information during the first session, you can do so in future sessions. For this reason, therapy consists of multiple sessions.

Great that you are going for help! The psychologist will doubtless have forms for you to fill out in which you can state that you feel depressed. In addition, the therapist will probably start by asking you what leads you to be coming. If not, you start by saying you have come because you feel depressed. Straightforward is the rule of this road.
Good luck!

Peace,

Marian Shapiro

Tell the psychologist or therapist that you would like to tell and describe your issues. They will or should listen. They might ask questions about them but will go over everything with you.

Hello and thank you for reaching out. Every psychologist or therapist is different so there really is no set way to prepare to speak to someone about your depression. A few questions you may want to ask your self: 1. How long have you had depression and why are you know seeking help? 2. What are you wanting to get out of your sessions? Therapy is an ongoing process so if you do not get a chance to say everything you want to you will get your chance.

It might be helpful to start tracking your symptoms - make notes or keep a journal about how your feeling each day for several days prior to the appointment. Note any fluctuations in mood, energy level, sleep regularity, and appetite. Pay special attention to any particular thoughts that seem to be more prevalent since you started feeling depressed. And get ready to work! Therapy is most effective when the patient takes an active role.

Review this link:
https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/detecting-depression#1
Bring in a journal that includes when, how long, and level of intensity