Your First Appointment
what You Can expect…
Telehealth has proven to be a wonderful resource to increase access to mental health support. Here are a few things to consider after scheduling:
Please take a moment to complete initial paperwork prior to the session. Delays in receiving signatures may take away from our session time.
For couples: both partners need to sign consent forms.
For minors: all parents/guardians with custodial rights must sign consent forms, unless documentation to confirm custodial agreement can be provided.
Please treat our sessions as if we were meeting in my office in person (fully dressed, no driving, no consumption of alcohol or other substances); if you are not sure about something you are always more than welcome to ask.
Verification of ID: please be prepared to show valid unexpired government photo ID; this is for security purposes to make sure I am able to uphold your confidentiality as my client and provide services to the right person.
After scheduling your initial appointment, you will be sent an introductory welcome e-mail with information regarding your first session and your secure client portal, where you will sign all initial paperwork and upload a valid, non-expired form of government ID (e.g., state ID, Driver’s License, passport or Visa.), along with a head shot for the ID verification. Please ensure all paperwork and ID verification is completed prior to your appointment; any delays in these will create an interruption in services and possibly result in a late cancellation.
After completing all initial paperwork, you will be able to access the telehealth link. Please plan ahead where you will be participating in the session. A private secure location for confidentiality is strongly recommended; some clients have found it helpful to sit in their parked car or outside if privacy is limited. If confidentiality is compromised due to lack of privacy, you may be asked to reschedule and this would be considered a late cancellation.
Once selecting the link, you will be brought to a virtual waiting room, where we will then begin the session at your scheduled appointment time.
Your first appointment will entail reviewing initial paperwork and consent forms, an overview of your rights to confidentiality, as well as answering any questions you may have. I will walk you through an initial assessment that will help me to better understand your history, background, what brings you to therapy, and what you’d like to gain from this process.
Together, we will discuss treatment recommendations and create a plan that aligns with your hopes for therapy.