New clients
A calmer first appointment, by design.
A step-by-step walk through what happens before, during and after your first session — written for the question most people are too polite to ask.
Before your first appointment
Once your appointment is booked, you will receive a confirmation email with the location (or telehealth link), what to bring, and a short intake form to complete before we meet.
The intake form
The intake form covers basic contact details, what you would like to focus on, and any relevant history. None of it requires you to figure out the perfect answer — short, honest answers are more useful than polished ones. The form is there to make the first session more efficient, not to test you.
Sending your Mental Health Care Plan
If you have a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP, you can either email it to nicola@melbournemindfulpsychology.com ahead of time, or bring a copy with you. Either is fine. If you do not have one yet, you can still attend the session — we will discuss whether one would be worth getting from your GP for future sessions.
In your first session
Initial sessions are 50 minutes. Most of that time is conversation — gentle, paced, with no assumption that you will be able to summarise everything in the first sitting.
The structure
The first session is largely about understanding. We will talk through what brings you in, what you have already tried, and what you are hoping might be different. This is a brief assessment of current concerns rather than a deep diagnostic process — that comes later, if it is relevant.
By the end of the first session
We will have a shared sense of what is going on, an early formulation of how the pieces fit together, and a plan for what the next few sessions might focus on. You will also have a sense of whether the fit feels right for you — which matters more than any particular technique or qualification.
In the sessions that follow
Subsequent sessions are also 50 minutes, and the work is collaborative. The pace and direction are something we set together, and revisit as we go. There may be between-session practice or reflection, but it is realistic and chosen with you — no one is sent home with thirty worksheets in week two.
The total number of sessions varies enormously depending on what we are working with. Some focused pieces of work resolve in a handful of sessions. Other presentations — particularly those involving long-standing patterns, complex trauma, or assessment processes — take longer. We will talk about expected length early, and adjust as the picture clarifies.
Telehealth instructions
Setting up your first telehealth session
A few minutes before
You will receive a session link in your confirmation email. Click the link a few minutes before the session to allow time for any browser permissions for camera and microphone.
A private space
Find somewhere you can speak openly without interruption. A bedroom or study with the door closed is usually ideal. The car (parked) is also a common option when home isn't private enough.
Headphones
Headphones improve audio quality and add a layer of privacy if other people are in the home. They are not required, but most people find sessions easier with them.
If something goes wrong
Technology occasionally fails. If we lose connection or the link does not work, Nikki will call you on the phone number on file. Sessions are not cut short for technical issues.
Cancellation policy
Things come up — illness, work, family. If you need to cancel or reschedule, please give as much notice as you can.
Where possible, we ask for at least 24 business hours' notice. Cancellations with less than 24 hours' notice, and missed appointments, are charged at 100% of the session fee. Full details are included in your intake paperwork so there are no surprises.
A note for neurodivergent clients
If you are autistic, ADHD, or otherwise neurodivergent, the unfamiliarity of a first appointment can be the hardest part of the whole process. A few things to know:
- You can ask for the room layout, lighting, or sensory environment to be adjusted before you arrive.
- You do not need to make eye contact, sit still, or perform conversation in any particular way.
- You can communicate via writing, on paper or on your phone, if speaking is hard.
- You can take breaks. You can leave and come back. You can ask to do the first session via telehealth instead.
- You can bring a support person, especially for the first session.
None of this needs explaining or apologising for. Mention what you need either when booking, in the intake form, or in the first few minutes of the session.
Take the first step, in your own time.
Book an initial session when you are ready, or start with a free 15-minute call to ask whatever you need to ask.