So you’ve decided you want to see a therapist? First of all, we’re so glad you’re here. We at Heartland Therapy Connection know how hard it can be to make that choice and take this step towards supporting your mental health and well-being. Starting therapy can feel scary and overwhelming, and you might wonder what to expect when you reach out to book an appointment or when you sit down for your first appointment.
This post aims to provide you with a basic overview of what the new client process looks like for us at Heartland Therapy Connection, from first contact to the initial appointment. While there might be small differences in the process depending on your therapist’s approach and style, we hope this guide will help you feel a bit more empowered and prepared as you begin this journey.
Finding a Therapist and Requesting an Appointment
The “Our Team” page of our website contains the bios of all of the therapists in our practice. These bios contain information about each therapist’s counseling approach, specialties, and what types of clients tend to be good fits. You can also review our “Services” page to get an idea of the general types of services we offer and concerns we work with.
Once you’ve decided you want to work with us and found a counselor you think would be a good fit for you, give us a call at 816-287-0252. If you’d rather avoid a phone call, you are also welcome to text that number or request an appointment through our website. Our practice manager Josephine will reach out and can answer any questions you may have and assist you in finding a therapist you want to work with. She might ask if there is a particular type of therapy you’re looking for or a certain issue that you’d like support with. Next, you’ll discuss availability and rate, and Josephine will gather basic information from you like your name, email, and phone number. We do require a credit/debit card to reserve appointments (we accept HSA cards), but no payment will be collected until the end of your first session.
Once all that information is collected, you’ll be scheduled for your first appointment!
Paperwork
Prior to your appointment date, you will be sent intake paperwork to complete before you show up for your first session. These documents include consent forms, notices of practice policies, a good faith estimate for services, and a standard intake questionnaire that gives your therapist a little more information about you to help prepare for your intake session. You’ll also be sent a welcome email which will tell you where to go to find your therapist’s office.
The Intake Session
Your first appointment will look a little different than a typical therapy session. The goal of this session is to provide you with hope and choices regarding moving forward with your care. Your therapist will introduce themselves and provide a bit of information about their therapeutic style and approach, as well as go over basic policies and expectations. Feel free to ask any questions you might have about this process. The majority of the session will then be spent gathering fairly extensive background information about what’s brought you to therapy, information about your history and past experiences, and assess for other factors that might affect your current functioning. Your therapist will also assess for any suicidal ideation, homicidal ideation, and self-harm. All of this information is gathered so that your therapist can begin to formulate a treatment plan for your future work together. As part of this, your therapist will ask about and explore your initial goals and objectives for counseling.
The intake appointment can feel like a lot and you’ll likely be asked a lot of questions about many different areas of your life. Remember that it’s okay to only share what you feel comfortable sharing. We recognize that you have only just met your therapist and might not be ready to open up about everything you’ve been through. It takes time to build trust and rapport with anyone, and above all else we want you to feel safe in how you show up.
Finally, during your intake appointment your therapist might provide and walk you through a skill or technique to support you in feeling more grounded and secure as you leave our office. As you wrap up, you can decide if you want to book another session with your therapist. We generally recommend starting with about six to eight weekly sessions to allow for positive outcomes to begin to manifest.
We hope this overview gave you a bit of insight into what beginning therapy can look like. If you’re ready to book your first appointment, feel free to call or reach out to us. We’d be honored to support you in your journey towards healing.
