What to Expect From Your First Appointment
It can be very difficult for some people to decide to seek help from a professional and it is very common to feel a little nervous scheduling your first appointment, also called Intake or Assessment Appointment. When you call The Moore Center to schedule your intake appointment, we will work to find the first availability that matches your schedule.
Prior to meeting with your therapist online, you will be asked to fill out and sign the initial paperwork via our secure Client Portal. The link to our secure Client Portal will be sent to you via the e-mail you provide to us. When filling out the paperwork, you will be asked to provide demographic information, medical and psychological history, the concerns that bring you to The Moore Center as well as other questions that may help your therapist better understand who you are and how they can best assist you. The initial paperwork also includes important information about our office and privacy policy and your rights and responsibilities and it is important that you read it carefully. These documents must be filled out and submitted prior to your first scheduled appointment and it will be reviewed with you during your session.
When you meet with your therapist, your first appointment is primarily an information-gathering session. Your therapist needs to learn a lot about you and your history in the 45-50 minutes allotted for the session in order to properly evaluate your concerns and arrive at a conclusion to determine which services are best suited for you. In some cases 45-50 minutes may not be enough time to complete your assessment entirely and your therapist may use up to three (3) sessions depending on your history.
If we recommend therapy services for you outside of The Moore Center, you will be offered resources and we will assist you with the referral. These services may include Crisis Center, Partial Care Hospitalization (PHP), Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), or other specialty services. However, if we determine that meeting with us for individual therapy is clinically appropriate for you, you and your therapist will discuss your goals and develop a plan together that can help you reach these goals. You will then meet with your therapist for ongoing 45-minute sessions weekly and your appointments will be scheduled at the same day and time each week to facilitate planning, commitment, and consistency.
Contact us if you have further questions!