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I booked an intake.. What now?

Great job! We are so proud that you took that next step to book an intake. If you are a first timer with therapy, you may be asking yourself what this even looks like. At Making Waves, we try to make the intake process as seamless and easy for our new clients as possible. You may notice some anxious feelings or sensations going into your first visit. We will give you an inside look on what you may be doing during your initial intake visit as well as your consultation.


Free 15 Minute Consultation


We love offering free 15 minute consultations with prospective clients. We believe it allows the client and therapist to interact with no strings attached. Often times, new clients feel pressured to do intakes immediately, which can lead to feelings of anxiousness that can sometimes deter them from getting the services they need. In order to bridge this gap, we believe free 15 minute consultations can be incredibly helpful. During this time, you are able to ask your potential therapist questions, provide them an overview of symptomology and what sort of goals you want to work on. This will ensure the therapist is practicing within her scope and empowers the client to have collaboration in his/her care. Here are some things you may see during your consultation visit with Making Waves Counseling and Wellness.


  • Introductions

  • Inquiring about where the client is located and if they are interested in telehealth/in person

  • Inquiring on insurance or preferred payment method

  • Inquiring on preferred dates/times for potential future sessions (This ensures we are able to provide you with what you need before diving into the deep stuff!)

  • Learning about clients needs, symptoms and potential goals for therapy

  • Answering any questions the client may have about therapist and practice. These questions could look like:

- What type of modalities do you use?

- Do you have experience working with individuals who have my symptoms?

- Where is your practice located?

- What is your no show/late cancellation policy?

- Do you take my type of insurance or accept sliding scale?


Once the clinician has answered any questions you may have, she may suggest booking an intake. Once the intake is booked, she would then send you important paperwork via email such as procedures/policies, insurance forms, demographics forms, etc.


I booked an intake.. Now what?


Great question! Intakes are really tailored to each clinician for each individual practice. We take pride in being thorough in our practice and do our best to gain as much information as the client is comfortable in providing. Intakes at Making Waves usually ranges from presenting problem all the way to goal building. We mark 53-60 minute sessions for intakes to ensure we get all of the information we need.


Assessments


Prior to intake, your clinician will send you the following questionnaires to help assess for different diagnoses. These assessments include:


  • ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences)- The ACE is a 10 question assessment that looks at abuse, neglect and family dysfunction.

  • PCL-5- The PCL-5 is a 20 item questionnaire, corresponding to the DSM-5 criteria for PTSD.

  • GAD7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder)- A self reported questionnaire for screening and severity measuring of Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

  • PHQ9 (Patient Depression Questionnaire)- This assessment objectifies and assesses degree of depression severity.

  • Standard Intake- This is a standard intake that allows the client to input their presenting problem, previous medical/mental health provider information, etc.

During the intake..


During the intake, the clinician will review the assessments with you and ask any additional questions she may have. At Making Waves, safety is our number 1 priority. We will always educate our clients on passive and active suicidal ideations as well as creating an effective safety plan, if needed. We will assess for mental wellness by asking you to remember a few things and asking you to orient yourself in front of us. This may look like stating your name, stating your location and why you are there. Intake questions you may be asked include:


  • Presenting problem

  • Triggers

  • Family function

  • Client identification

  • Goals

  • Current coping skills

  • Prior mental health hospitalizations/providers

  • Legal questions

  • Trauma history

  • Social History

And so much more...


We always try to end our sessions on a positive note which includes asking the client about their strengths! We love to hear about all the good things our clients are currently doing in their lives.


If you are interested in booking an intake or 15 minute consultation today, please reach out at 910.541.8928.





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Eastwood Executive Suites 
2018 Eastwood Road, Wilmington, NC 28403
karatolman@makingwavescounselingwellness.com

Phone: 910.541.8928

Fax: 910.851.2695
 

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