What to expect when you contact us for an appointment?
By Christina M. Berry, LPCC-S
You’ve stepped up to make that first therapy appointment because you know things need to change, but now that you have, you might be wondering about what happens next.
Whether you’ll be attending in person or by video, before your session with us, we will provide you with a link to Simple Practice (no download needed) to fill out several forms online and begin your intake process. The info you provide is an important first step because it will begin building the foundation of your first session.
At your first session, which is called an assessment or intake, a highly skilled Roots to Healing therapist will devote time and care to begin getting to know you and to begin building a connection between us, which is key to a successful experience. We want to understand you and will likely ask questions like:
what prompted you to seek treatment
what is your background
what are your life situations
are there any past treatments you’ve sought
what medications are you taking
what are your goals for therapy
It’s pretty common to feel emotional or nervous during the first appointment, since this is a big step taken to make your life better. Please find comfort in knowing that this is a safe place to express your feelings and emotions, but it can cause you to forget questions or concerns you want to ask, so please consider writing them down before or even during your appointment. We want to hear your concerns whether they’re about you or us. We believe your experience here is important because this is all about what you need to heal, so you can live the life you want and need to.
