What to Expect Before and During Your Psychotherapy Intake Session
Starting therapy is a meaningful step toward improving your well-being. To ensure a smooth and informed beginning, here’s what you can expect before and during your intake session:
Before Your Intake Session
- Completing Required Forms: Before your appointment, you’ll receive an invitation to complete several forms online. These may include:
- Consent to Treatment: Explains the therapy process and confirms your agreement to participate.
- Privacy and Confidentiality Information: Outlines how your information is protected and the rare circumstances where confidentiality may be limited.
- Health and Background Assessments: Helps gather details about your personal history, current challenges, and goals.
- Understanding Psychotherapy: The forms and materials provided will help you understand what psychotherapy involves, how it works, and what you can expect from the therapeutic process.
Taking the time to complete these documents in advance ensures the intake session focuses on your needs and goals.
During Your Intake Session
- Building a Connection: The session begins with creating a safe, supportive space where you can share at your own pace.
- Exploring Your Story: The therapist will ask about your reasons for seeking therapy, key life experiences, and mental health history.
- Clarifying Goals: Together, you’ll identify what you hope to achieve in therapy, whether that’s managing stress, healing from trauma, or improving relationships.
- Reviewing the Process: Your therapist will answer questions about the forms you completed, clarify policies (e.g., fees, scheduling, cancellation), and explain how sessions will work moving forward.
- Creating a Plan: Based on your intake, your therapist will outline a personalized plan to support your growth and healing.
By completing the initial steps before the session, you’ll have more time to focus on discussing your concerns and creating a path forward during your intake. This process ensures you feel informed, supported, and ready to begin your therapeutic journey.
