10/06/2026
One thing I see newer therapists struggle with when it comes to diagnosis? Feeling like they need to figure out the *entire* diagnosis in the first session.
And sometimes, that can lead to choosing a more specific or more severe diagnosis than the information actually supports.
Your diagnosis should reflect what you **know** — not what you *suspect might eventually be true.*
That doesn’t mean you should automatically choose the “least severe” diagnosis. It means you need to look at the clinical information you actually have:
→ What symptoms has the client reported?
→ How long have they been experiencing them?
→ How much impairment is there?
→ What diagnostic criteria have I actually established?
→ What am I assuming or filling in?
→ What information do I still need?
Sometimes an adjustment disorder or an unspecified diagnosis may be appropriate while you gather more information. And sometimes a more specific diagnosis is clearly supported from the beginning.
And here's the part I really want new therapists to hear:
**You don't have to solve the entire diagnostic puzzle in session one.**
Diagnosis is part of an ongoing clinical process. As you learn more about your client, your diagnostic understanding may change — and that's okay.
Updating a diagnosis isn't admitting you got it wrong.
It's responding to new clinical information.
If you're a newer therapist who has ever thought, *“Wait… am I supposed to know this already?”* — you're definitely not alone. ❤️
***Be sure to look at the episode description on YouTube to get my free handout with tips on diagnosing during the first session!!
Watch it now and subscribe below!
https://youtu.be/4fjGEChLbWA
*This content is for educational purposes and does not replace supervision, consultation, or applicable diagnostic standards.*
