Planning For Your First Visit
You may be wondering how to prepare for your first therapy visit. What should I bring? How long will it last? Will I like my therapist? Here are some answers to common questions about preparing for your first therapy appointment.
When you arrive for your first visit, you will want to arrive 10-15 minutes early for the check-in process. Please remember to bring a form of ID and your insurance card, if you wish to file our services under your insurance. Before you/your child’s first visit, you are provided with a series of documents. This is often provided through our secure patient portal. If you have not completed these documents prior to your first visit, these documents will be provided to you in-person, when you check-in.
The first visit is called an evaluation. This is when your therapist will gather information by using standardized testing of specific skills, observing skills, gathering medical history information, and/or reports on specific concerns. It may also be helpful to bring a list of any questions that you have for your therapist.
The first appointment, or evaluation, usually lasts about 1 hour. The time depends on several factors, such as age of the patient, what is being assessed, and medical history. Please expect this visit to last at least 2 hours if you are being evaluated by more than one type of therapist. If the patient is a minor, at least one parent needs to be present during the first visit. This will help us answer any unknown questions, and will allow our therapist to answer any of your questions. We do ask that you limit the number of additional family members or caregivers to just 1-2 people, in addition to the patient. This helps eliminate distractions and keeps our clinical spaces from becoming overly crowded.
After your evaluation, you and your therapist will work together to determine goals and develop a treatment plan. The frequency and duration of therapy will depend on your condition and your goals. We often see patients 1-2 times per week, and this schedule may change to meet your specific needs.
