[guilloche]

When you started with your therapist - how was their intake form? Long and detailed, or short and to the point?

I'm trying to figure out if there is any significance.

My current T has a super SHORT intake form. Pretty much just the most basic contact info, and his rules around paying. I was incredibly happy to see this, because sometime long intake forms are either overwhelming, or triggering for me.

I've seen Ts with longer intake forms. For example, they ask about previous therapy, about your relationships with various family members, etc. One I remember had a list of terrible things that might have happened to you, and asked you to check those that applied (!!!). That was hugely triggering for me, and I didn't do it, but still was pretty upset and ungrounded for the first session (aren't first sessions hard enough)?

So I'm curious... what have you seen for intake forms? And, do you think there's any relationship between your T's personality or approach and their form?

[stopdog]

Very short. Name address and insurance info if using it.

[HazelGirl]

I don't remember, but my T said it's as short as she can manage to make it, so I would guess very short, haha.

[Inner_Firefly]

Mine looked like it was downloaded it from the internet somewhere, it was very long.

[guilloche]

Thanks... And... do you think there's a relationship at all with the intake form, and how you feel about your T? Stopdog and Hazelgirl, do you think it matters - would you have possibly passed on a T with a longer form?

Inner Firefly - did you fill it all out? I've seen several of the long forms floating around, and it just feels like *so much* info before you've met someone face to face. Honestly, if I know a T has a form like that, I'm starting to just want to pass on them.

Thanks!

[ScarletPimpernel]

She gave me a consent form, HIPPA document, therapy goals form, and patient info form.

I, on the other hand, gave her 5 pages typed up all about my past.

I think I overwhelmed her more than she overwhelmed me.

[guilloche]

Ha! Thanks ScarletPimpernel! I tried something similar with one of my very first therapists... it didn't seem to help, sadly, I was hoping that the stuff I wrote would help him interact with me better... no such luck!

[CastlesInTheAir]

I've filled out long forms before. Those Ts didn't seem to read them. Which for me seems like a waste of time.

I like my new T for this reason. Forms were just privacy, insurance info etc.

The other stuff she asked and wrote in session.

I didn't get the sense that mine did much more than glance at it. I think it was just two pages of basic things, some of which I left blank. She didn't ask for much history at all, and no pathologizing (with diagnosis) in the form or in person, so in that way there was a relationship between the form and how therapy proceeded. I would not want someone to think they knew me or my needs based on a form.

[stopdog]

I don't know if I would have not seen a therapist with a long intake form. I probably would not have filled it out.

[lilypup]

Very short. I figure I can tell her all about it in therapy.

[JaneTennison1]

My T didn't really have an intake form. She got my name, phone number and address over the phone and we both signed a copy of the rules. Over the phone she did ask what was my motivation for going and I told her a one line basic description. A long form would put me off in a big way.

[BlessedRhiannon]

My T's form was fairly extensive and detailed. I tried to be honest, but there were some things I couldn't answer at that time. When I brought them up in a later session, I was apologetic that I hadn't mentioned them on the intake form. My T said it was fine, most people are not completely honest, it just gives her a starting point.

[JaneTennison1]

Originally Posted by BlessedRhiannon

My T's form was fairly extensive and detailed. I tried to be honest, but there were some things I couldn't answer at that time. When I brought them up in a later session, I was apologetic that I hadn't mentioned them on the intake form. My T said it was fine, most people are not completely honest, it just gives her a starting point.

I agree with this. What I first went in for has little to do with what we are working on.

[Chartres]

Mine did not have a form. He had my name and phone number from our first phone call, but he has never even asked for my address or emergency contact info. I thought this was strange but did not want to ask about it because I was pretty suicidal and was concerned that if he had my address he would call the police to my home. He never discussed any "rules" including cancellation policies, etc. He doesn't take insurance, so there was no paperwork for that.

[ScarletPimpernel]

Originally Posted by guilloche

Ha! Thanks ScarletPimpernel! I tried something similar with one of my very first therapists... it didn't seem to help, sadly, I was hoping that the stuff I wrote would help him interact with me better... no such luck!

Yeah. I'm not so sure my pages were helpful. I guess it helped her be aware of what she was in for with me...lol

And my T's intake form does kinda represent who she is. She's very organized, professional, detailed, intelligent, and direct. But it doesn't represent how kind, caring, empathetic, and funny she is.

But I choose her based on her webiste (which completely represents her) and picture...and of course first session. After I saw her website and picture, I knew she was the one I wanted to work with.

[brillskep]

No intake form. I just gave the therapist my contact information (phone and email) and he gave me his, plus a business card.

[OneWorld]

Mine was pretty long (several pages) and we spent the entire first session going over it. It was pretty pointless though because it took me months to trust her enough to be honest. Until then, we were just talking about surface stressors.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[LifeIsCruel]

Intake form?

My T had an intake "packet"!

Then....after I answered ALL those questions in written form....during the first 2 sessions...I was asked them again verbally! Geez!! I guess I should have rented a flashing neon sign for them.

[TheWell]

It was very long and very detailed. I couldn't answer all the questions. I put that I wasn't comfortable answering some of them online. So they called me and asked me them on the phone. Ack

That was almost five years ago now.

[nottrustin]

I wasn't given any forms to fill out. She took my insurance card and took the information herself. She did ask me a bunch of intake questions but she wrote down the answers (history or whatever and said if I didn't feel comfortable answering any that was fine with her). She gave me a hipaa form to fill out and had me sign releases for my Dr.and hubby (she asked if I wanted to and I said yes)

[archipelago]

Interesting to read all the different ways the first contact is made and how people responded to that.

I myself wouldn't have minded a long intake form; seems to get basic history type stuff out of the way so that it is doesn't have to be take up session time.

My therapist did an amazing job doing an intake with me. It was a little be unusual in the sense that he had already seen me, called in to help with an impasse with my former therapist. Things happened and I chose to switch to him. When I did, he marked off a formal beginning with a thorough assessment.

I actually appreciated how he was doing it and saw his mind at work, trying to put together the details into a bigger picture. Once that process was over, he completely changed. Went into a friendly informal mode, able to recall a surprising amount of specifics about me without ever taking notes.

[guilloche]

Wow... it is neat to see all the differences. I'm sort of surprised that some people seem to not mind the super-personal questions on long forms. To me, it seems like... I don't know, sort of traumatizing, but then I usually feel like Ts are being pushy and invasive when they ask personal stuff early on and don't take "I'm not comfortable talking about that" as an answer.

Thanks...

I've never had to fill out any forms or sign anything with a T. The first time I saw my current T, it was in his capacity as a pdoc, and he wrote down my personal ID number, address, and phone number at the first appointment. That's the only information he regally requires, in order to get paid. I saw him a couple of times for pdoc appointments, before I asked if I could come for psychotheraphy, so my first therapy appointment was perhaps a bit different; in any case, T took my history rather gradually over several sessions, and never asked "Why do you want therapy" or "Why should I take you on as a patient" or "What do you want to change" - those things would have been impossible to answer!

I don't remember honestly... I know I filled something out, can picture myself sitting there in the waiting room a huge bundle of nerves with the clipboard in my lap filling out something. i'm sure there were hipaa forms, basic info like name, address, contact info... actually I did just remember ONE thing that stood out for me and it was a statement about how therapy is a commitment of both time and money or something along those lines. I remember my reaction to that too - thinking "I don't want to do this longer than 6 months." Wasn't I cute? 3 years in, I am so HUGELY glad that she didn't let me quit the first time I tried which was about at the 6 month point (or any of the times since).