Hello and warm wishes from Mountain Counseling & Training (MCT for short)!
People find themselves at MCT through all sorts of avenues. Maybe you found us on your own or maybe a teacher, family member, or friend connected you. Perhaps you were referred to us by a doctor, another therapist, social worker, or some other way! Whatever the case, welcome and we are so excited to get to know you.
You might be wondering what to expect when starting therapy, so we hope this helps paint a clearer picture for you!
Before your first session
Usually, our first step involves a brief phone call. If you’re a minor (under age 18), we’ll give your parent or legal guardian a call to collect some of the basic information we need (contact info, address, age, school, reason for seeking services, etc.) in order to set up your first appointment.
*A Note About Consent: The first thing we’ll need at your initial appointment is signed consent for treatment, a legal declaration that you agree to treatment. We will ask for your signature because you are the client receiving therapy (regardless of your age) and, if you’re a minor under age 18 we’ll also need signed consent from your parent or legal guardian. Another adult in the household can provide consent through a Caregiver’s Authorization Affidavit.
If you are 12 or older you can provide your own consent for treatment without your parent or legal guardian. However, we usually consider notifying your parent/legal guardian aware that you’re signing up for therapy to make sure they can help support you. There are exceptions to this, so if you have questions please discuss further with your MCT therapist or call our office at (909) 336-3330.
Your first appointment
Your first appointment will be set up either in person at our Crestline office (340 CA-138, Crestline, CA 92325) or virtually over Zoom (we’ll email you a Zoom link) for a time that works best for you, your caregiver (if providing consent for treatment), and an MCT therapist who’s been assigned to start your intake assessment process.
What’s an intake assessment process?
Your therapist will spend your first couple of appointments with you and a consenting caregiver learning about you and your background in order to complete an overall intake assessment. They might spend some of that time talking just with you, and then some time just with your caregiver. They will also review some forms and legal documents which are required in order for us to provide treatment.
What’s all this intake stuff for?
These steps at the beginning of therapy are important for a few reasons:
- It allows us to provide you with all the info YOU need to know about your therapy experience before you get started – we’ll answer any questions you have, listen to what you’re wanting out of your time with us, and if everything sounds good to you, you’ll sign a document called an Informed Consent, which declares you agree to therapy. Your consent for treatment (along with your parent’s consent if you’re under the age of 12) is legally required in order to continue with services.
- It helps us get to know you and your story. Everyone is unique and it is important that your therapy is tailored to your individual strengths and needs.
- It helps us determine what kind of support and resources you’d most benefit from.
What else should I expect from the assessment process?
It is standard practice for your therapist to ask a wide range of questions about you, your background, your family, and any challenges you may have been facing lately. Your therapist will ask about topics like recent behaviors, emotions, relationships, and any goals you’d like to address in the therapy space. They will ask about your strengths and what you enjoy doing. Some questions will ask about important safety risk items such as, “Have you ever had thoughts of hurting yourself?” Questions like these are very standard when starting therapy; in fact, we ask them with every client. We understand that some questions may feel personal or uncomfortable, and it’s completely normal and understandable to feel that way! Keep in mind that all therapists at MCT are trained professionals following a protocol to ensure that they have all information needed to prepare the best treatment possible for you. For that reason it’s best to be as open and honest as you can. Of course, it’s up to you to decide what you share and when, but we hope that your therapist gets the chance to earn your trust over time.
In addition to all of these questions, the assessment process involves some paperwork. Your therapist will review:
- Consent for Services (also known as Informed Consent) Forms
- Client Attendance and Participation Agreement
- Notice of Privacy Practices
- Client Resource Evaluation
- Care Necessity Form
- ACE Assessment
- Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC-35)
- Release of Information (as needed)
- Authorization for Live Observation and Audio-Visual Recording (Optional, as needed)
Your therapist will explain what all of these are for during your appointment! Ask any questions you have along the way.
If we’re meeting virtually, how do I sign intake forms?
For some documents your verbal consent is enough! For others, you will be given access through email to a client portal where you can go online and sign the required documents electronically. Ask your therapist for additional guidance with this!
What’s next?
Once you’ve signed the Informed Consent forms and completed your assessment process, you’ll move on to meeting with your therapist on a regular basis! If you’re here for individual therapy, your sessions will just be between you and your therapist from now on. If you’re interested in family therapy or perhaps inviting a loved one to a session, simply discuss this option with your therapist. As the client, this choice is up to you.