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What to expect at your child’s first occupational therapy visit
Making that first appointment can feel like a big step, for you and for your child. I’ve spent my career meeting families at exactly this point, and I know you may be arriving with a lot of questions and maybe some worry. Knowing what will happen can make it feel easier, so here is how a first visit with me usually goes.
Before you arrive
After you send the booking form, we’ll have a free phone chat of about 15 to 20 minutes. You tell me about your child and what you’d like help with. I then send an intake form, privacy information, a consent form and a service agreement, which explains how we work together. Please try to sign it before your first appointment.
At the first appointment
The first appointment takes about 60 to 90 minutes at Child Development SPOT in Warrnambool. The room is set up for children, with a small table and chairs, a rope ladder and a painted town along the wall.
We’ll spend the time on play and conversation. There’s no test your child has to pass. What I want most from that first visit is to get to know your child as a person, to hear from you, and to agree on goals together. You’re in the room with us, because you know your child best. Collaboration with parents, especially around goal setting, is a recurring feature of paediatric occupational therapy research [1].
What helps to bring
- Your NDIS plan, if you have one
- Any earlier reports
- A snack or comfort item for your child
- Any questions you’d like to ask, however small they seem
Helping your child feel ready
Some families tell their child that they’re going to play and meet someone kind. Others use a simple picture of the building or a short visit story. Do what feels natural for your family. If your child finds new places hard, tell me when you book and I’ll plan around it.
What happens next
After the first visit, we agree on the next steps together. Sessions are as agreed, and we check how things are going along the way. You don’t need a diagnosis or a referral to get in touch.
If you have a question before booking, call me on 0429 874 592.
References
This article is general information. It is not advice about your own child. Talk to your GP or another health professional about any health concern.