What to expect from your first appointment

Your first appointment gives us time to properly understand what is happening, not just the diagnosis. We will talk about:

• Dementia: symptoms and future

• The changes you are experiencing

• Relationships, roles, and family life

• Any losses you may be experiencing

• What is working, and what is becoming difficult

• The emotional impact on everyone involved

• Your concerns, priorities, and what you would most like to change

From there, we identify what may help, and agree the next steps together.

What happens after your first appointment

Your first appointment lasts around ninety minutes, giving us enough time to properly understand your situation without feeling rushed.

We can meet online, wherever you live, or in person if you are in Northamptonshire or South Leicestershire. Home visits and community sessions are available in these areas, with travel further afield possible for an additional fee.

Whoever joins the first appointment depends on your situation, and there is no right answer. Some families prefer to attend together from the start. Others find it easier to have an initial conversation alone first, either the person with dementia or the person supporting them, particularly if there is a lot to think through, or if certain concerns are easier to raise without the other person present. We can talk this through before booking, if you are unsure what would work best.

The practical details: online and in-person

There is no fixed programme you are expected to fit into. Depending on what we identify together, ongoing support might focus on understanding and responding to behaviour and distress, building confidence in day-to-day challenges, working through grief and complex emotions, strengthening communication, or planning ahead in a realistic, manageable way. This might mean a single follow-up conversation, or ongoing coaching as things change.

What you can expect to feel with the right support

You may not be able to change the dementia itself, but you can change how well you understand it, how you respond to difficult moments, and how supported you feel while navigating it. Families I work with typically experience less distress and fewer difficult situations, greater confidence in what to do, better communication and connection, and more stability and clarity as things continue to change.