Scheduling your first appointment can be one of the biggest barriers to receiving psychological services. It is completely normal to feel uncomfortable and nervous about starting this process.

You may be thinking, “I don’t really need this; everything is ‘fine’” or “Holy cow this is expensive! Is it actually worth it??” or “What if my therapist thinks I’m crazy?” Rest assured that even if things are not in actuality fine, you are not crazy, and therapy is worth it.

There are a few things I want you to know before you attend an intake with me:

• There will be a lot of paperwork to start that will cover your rights as a client, your privacy and the limitations to it, and your consent to treatment. You will also be asked to complete some questionnaires about your current concerns and functioning. It can take about 30 minutes to complete and most of it will available prior to your appointment on your patient portal if you want to finish it in the comfort of your own home. I promise that I will look over all of your responses and it is so helpful for me to understand how things are going for you at the start of our work together.

• Intakes are a meeting where we will identify the psychology services that you would like to pursue. It will not feel like a typical therapy session and you will not be lying on a couch (but I will ask about your mother… and all other major members in your family of origin). We will discuss your options and my recommendations at the end of the intake.

• Intakes are also a time to mutually determine if you and I are a good fit. Yes, you are reading that right - I’m giving you permission right here and now to fire me at the end of our intake if you don’t think we mesh. I want you to know that all mental health professionals, including myself, are trained and prepared to be be fired. If you decide that you do not want to continue services with me at any time, you will not be judged, shamed, yelled at, or pressured. Also, you will not hurt my feelings. One of my values as a professional is to ensure that you have your psychological needs met regardless if I am in the picture or not. I will likely process your decision with you in a supportive way and I will be more than happy to provide you recommendations to a number of wonderful providers in Lubbock/West Texas. However, I do think it is important to acknowledge that most, if not all, therapeutic relationships are built over time. So, when our first session is not perfect, feels awkward, or you feel unsure - that’s okay! We can always talk about it and your options.

• At the end of the intake, if I have concerns that I will not be able to provide you with the care you are in need of and deserve I will not continue to see you and will provide you with a referral to another mental health professional. It would be very unethical for me to take your hard earned money for a service that I cannot actually provide, even if it feels like it could be a good fit. My decision to not work with someone is not a judgement of worth or character, rather it is my respect for you, your time, and your money.

Now, what to expect:

• Arrive 15-10 minutes early to make sure you find parking, the office location, and can fill out any paperwork that may be required

• I will review our limits of confidentiality, notice of privacy practices, and all that jazz

• I will ask you a series of specific questions to learn about you, your current concerns, and your general history

• You and I can discuss your options and determine your ideal service and tentative transition plan

• If we decide to continue working together, we will schedule our next appointment

• Deep breaths, you’ve got this!

Thanks for checking out this Tackett Tip!

Dr. Tackett