For many children, visiting a psychologist for the first time can cause anxiety. They may be unsure of what to expect or what is expected of them. This situation is entirely new, and even if they’ve had therapy before, seeing a new psychologist in a new setting can still be just as anxiety-inducing.
Clinicians can help ease this anxiety by sending a social story ahead of time, allowing clients to feel more comfortable before their session even begins.
Social stories are brief, structured narratives that outline specific situations and what to expect. They use simple, clear text paired with images or photos to make the information easy to understand.
This customizable social story template provides an easy way for psychologists to create a personalised social story for their clients. Once completed, the social story can be shared with clients via email before the session or made available for download on your company’s website.
The digital template comes in multiple formats:
- Word Document
- Powerpoint Document
Plus includes a PDF example of the social story Growing Gently Psychology sends to clients ahead of sessions.
How to use:
- Upload your own photos wherever there is a yellow image icon in the document.
- Fill in the gaps and prompts to customise text.
- Delete pages as needed.
The social story includes information such as (but not limited to):
- Available parking
- A practitioner profile
- Toy inventory
- Seating options
- Bathroom facilities
- Water facilities
- Confidentiality
- Alternative communication options
Images you may put into the story include:
- Image of the outside of the office
- Image of the carpark
- Images of the waiting room
- Images of the therapy room
- Images of the toys available
- Images of the seating options
- Image of the clinician/psychologist