What to Expect at Your Intake Appointment

What to Expect at Your Intake Appointment

Welcome to the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Centerstone. Your intake appointment is the first step in getting connected to care. This visit helps us understand your needs and determines how we can best support you or your family.

What Is an Intake Appointment?

An intake appointment is a conversation, not a test. It is a time for you to share what brings you in and what you hope to get out of services.

During Your Intake, You Can Expect:

Discussion of Current Concerns
You will be asked about the concerns, stressors, or symptoms that led you to seek services. This may include topics such as mood, anxiety, stress, trauma, relationships, or family concerns.

Background Information
We will review general background information, which may include family and living situation, military or veteran connection, medical history, mental health history, and any previous counseling or treatment.

Screening Tools
You may be asked to complete brief questionnaires to better understand your symptoms and strengths. These tools help guide treatment planning.

Safety Questions
We ask routine questions about safety, including thoughts of self-harm or past traumatic experiences. These questions are asked to ensure appropriate care and support and are a standard part of intake.

Time for Questions
You will have the opportunity to ask questions about therapy, confidentiality, scheduling, services offered, or what to expect next.

What the Intake Appointment Is Not:

• It is not a test
• There are no right or wrong answers
• You are not required to share anything you are not ready to discuss

After the Intake:

• Our clinical leadership team will work on pairing you with a counselor that can best meet your needs for an assessment, and a member of our team will reach out to you the same day for scheduling. This appointment helps the clinician assigned to be able to tailor the 12-week targeted treatment during following appointments.
• You will work together to develop a plan that fits your goals and needs.

Our Commitment to You

The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Centerstone provides confidential, respectful, and veteran‑ and family‑centered care. Our goal is to support service members, veterans, and their loved ones in a safe and welcoming environment.