There are some people who come to therapy with very clear ideas about what is causing their distress and how they want to address it. For other people, they come to therapy because they know that something is not quite right, but are unsure of how to fix it. And sometimes people come to therapy without a sure sense of what is wrong but they feel, or suspect, that they may need some help. No matter where you are, meeting with a therapist can be an important first step towards moving towards the sense of “being better,” whatever that may mean for you.
The next step involves meeting with me for an “intake assessment.” The intake assessment is a chance for me to get to know you better, to develop one or more treatment goals, and to discuss treatment options that best fit you and your needs. During the intake assessment, we will talk about what you would like to work on as well as various aspects of your life and how they may be related with your current distress. Intake assessments usually take between one to two hours, though on some occasions they may take a little longer. If the intake takes longer than our first hour, we will simply resume the intake during our next session (usually the following week).
By the end of the evaluation, I will be able to offer you some first impressions of what our work will include and a treatment plan to follow, if you decide to continue with therapy. You should evaluate this information along with your own opinions of whether you feel comfortable working with me. Therapy involves a large commitment of time, money, and energy, so you should be very careful about the therapist you select. If you have questions about my procedures, please do not hesitate to bring them up at any time.