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What to Expect When Making an Appointment for Counseling

There is more to making an appointment for counseling than calling the office and arranging for an available date and time. When you make an appointment you also will be asked to provide information about yourself and why you want to talk with a counselor. This is called the intake process and it helps the counselor to prepare for your first visit.

What is the intake process? You will be asked for information before your first visit so that counseling office staff have some understanding of who you are and what your concerns are. This information is helpful as they try and match you with a counselor best suited to work with your issues and your needs. Usually during your first visit with the counselor you will have the chance to discuss your responses to these questions in more detail.

What will they ask me? The intake process is an opportunity for the counseling office to find out more about you and your concerns. When you make the appointment:

  • You may be asked to provide details about your concerns and/or symptoms.
  • You may be asked questions about your medical history, your family medical history, and for the names of any medications you take.
  • You also may be asked questions about your health insurance coverage.
  • Have your insurance card handy when you make the call.

Sometimes the intake process is done by phone when you call to schedule an appointment. Other offices may request that you provide this information on site through a computer program, or the office may send you questionnaires for you to complete and return before your first visit.

What should I ask them? The intake process is the time for you to ask any questions you may have, about things such as:

  • The costs involved for the first visit, continuing visits, and any special testing if needed.
  • Particular requests, like only wanting to talk with a female counselor.
  • Bringing another person with you to the session, like a roommate or spouse who may be involved with your concerns.
  • Whether the counselor you want to see is covered by your insurance plan.

You might find it useful to list for yourself any questions and requests you may have before you make the call to schedule an appointment. It’s best to make your call when you have some privacy and enough time to complete the intake process. It could take 10 to 20 minutes.

What else do I need for the appointment? It helps to plan ahead and think of what you may need to obtain and/or take with you to your first counseling session. For example:

  • You may want to take copies of any relevant test results and medical records.
  • If your health insurance covers counseling you may be required to have a referral from your primary care physician or some other form of prior authorization from the insurance carrier.
  • If you do not have insurance and want to arrange for a possible reduction in fees, you may want to take proof of income such as tax forms, pay check stubs, etc.

Remember that, just as when you schedule an appointment with any health care provider, there will be some wait time until you are seen. It may be only a day or two, or even a week or more. If you think that you or someone you know needs help immediately, call Psychiatric Emergency Services at 996-4747 or one of the other crisis hotlines listed on our Mental Health Resources page. The staff who answer these phone lines are trained to help you decide how urgent your situation is and where you should go for help.