What happens at the first appointment
When you call or stop by the Counseling Center, you will be offered the first available appointment that matches your schedule. If you have particular counselor preferences, this might increase the time you have to wait for your first appointment. This first session, an initial consultation, will usually be scheduled within a few days to a week or so. (Please note that if you are in need of immediate help, inform our staff so that we can connect you to the appropriate Counseling Center resources immediately.) When you schedule your first appointment, you will be asked your name, phone number, and whether you have been to the Counseling Center in the past. The total time period required for the initial consultation or intake appointment is approximately 90 minutes, so be sure to keep this in mind when scheduling your appointment.
It is essential that you arrive promptly for your first appointment in order to allow sufficient time to complete the necessary paperwork. If you are more than 15 minutes late for your first appointment, you will be asked to reschedule. The initial paperwork includes a demographic and clinical history form, a consent to treatment, and a scheduling form. You also will be given a handout about Client Rights and Responsibilities . Once you have completed all of the paperwork, you will be asked to have a seat in our waiting room.
The purpose of this first session is for your intake counselor to obtain information about your current concerns, relevant history, and goals. Your counselor should also review relevant the Counseling Centers policies and procedures, such as confidentiality. At the end of the appointment, you and your intake counselor will determine an appropriate course of action.