What can I expect during my first appointment with the clinician?

The intake appointment is the first appointment. This is when most clinicians will go over informed consent of treatment, client responsibilities and rights, payment policies, telehealth procedures, and important information for contacting providers to reschedule services. Clients will also be given information about emergency numbers and policies on after-hours clinician contacts. During the initial intake session, clients will have a chance to give the clinician background information on their particular struggles and their hopes and expectations from treatment.

What is involved in the counseling and treatment planning process at your clinic?

The next step in counseling is treatment planning. This is when the clinician and client work together to build a road map of the goals and objectives for the clients treatment. This will be a collaborative, reciprocal process between the client and provider to help make sure the client is working towards building their own life worth living.

What does the main part of the therapeutic process involve at your practice?

The bulk of the therapeutic process is when clients will build skills, begin to understand themselves and their environment, and work to maneuver their world in a way that improves their mental health and quality of life.

How do you determine when a client is ready for discharge, and what follow-up support do you provide?

Discharge will happen when the client feels they have enough skills and practice to be able to transfer the skills they have learned to a wide variety of situations in a wide variety of relationships to stay active, present, and living the life they deserve. CNMH will ensure every client has access to follow-up care if necessary and provide any referrals where appropriate.

What are some common signs of mental health distress that might indicate a need for counseling?

• Depressed mood interfering with the ability to perform daily duties such as work, school, or parenting 

• Inability to find motivation for things you once enjoyed

• Excessive worry with inability to redirect thoughts

• Muscle fatigue, pain, stomach problems, headaches, neck pain, and uneasiness that physical causes cannot explain

• Increased irritability or sensitivity to noises or overstimulating environments

• Suggestions from loved ones to talk to someone 

• Increased instances of crying

•  Disruptions in sleep (sleeping too much, inability to fall asleep or stay asleep, or waking up restlessly or having disturbing dreams)

• Inability to cope with distressing life events such as death of a loved one, divorce, accident, etc.