Scheduling a therapy appointment is the easy part. It’s the days leading up to it that tend to get loud.
What do I say? Will they judge me? What if I cry? What if I don’t cry and they think nothing is wrong? Most people spend more energy dreading the first session than the session itself ends up warranting. So here’s what actually happens, from the moment you schedule through the end of your first hour.
The Paperwork Comes First
Before you set foot in the office — or open a video link — you’ll get a secure online intake packet to complete. It covers the basics: contact information, insurance details, health history, and a few questions about what’s been going on for you lately. Plan for maybe 15–20 minutes. If you can finish it the day before your appointment, great; it gives your clinician a chance to look it over ahead of time rather than reading it cold while you’re sitting there.
If you’re not sure whether your insurance covers us, call before you come in. Our front desk can verify your benefits and give you a straight answer about what to expect cost-wise. Nobody should be surprised by a bill.
The Day Of
Come a few minutes early if you’re coming in person. There may be a form or two to sign at the front desk, and getting settled before the session starts is easier than rushing in at the last second. If you’re doing telehealth, you’ll get a link by email the morning of your appointment — check your spam folder if it doesn’t show up, and try the link a few minutes early to make sure the audio and video work.
You don’t need to have anything prepared. You don’t need a timeline of events or a clear explanation of what’s wrong. Most people walk in with some version of “things have been hard and I’m not sure what to do about it.” That’s a perfectly fine place to start.
What the Intake Session Is
The first appointment is a little different from regular therapy sessions. It’s more of a get-to-know-you conversation than a treatment session — your clinician is trying to get a real picture of who you are, what’s been going on, and what kind of support would actually help.
Expect questions about what brought you in, how long things have felt this way, a little background on your life and relationships, and what you’re hoping to get out of therapy. Some of it may feel personal. It will probably be more honest of a conversation than you’re used to having with someone you just met. That’s kind of the point.
The session runs 50 to 60 minutes. You’re allowed to say “I don’t want to get into that yet” — a good therapist won’t push past it.
There may also be a question or two about things like substance use, past trauma, or access to weapons at home. At Oak Tree, we ask because we want a complete picture of your safety and situation, not to flag or report anything. If you’ve ever wondered how a therapist handles these conversations with gun owners specifically, [our approach to firearm-informed care](#) is worth reading.
After the First Session
By the time you leave, you’ll typically have a sense of what you and your therapist will focus on, how often you’ll meet, and what comes next. Most people start weekly or biweekly and adjust from there.
And if the clinician you met doesn’t feel like the right fit — personality, style, approach — say so. We’d rather connect you with someone who works for you than have you quietly decide therapy isn’t worth it because the match was off.
One Last Thing
A lot of people put off making the call because they don’t feel like their problems are “bad enough” to justify therapy, or because they’re worried they won’t be able to explain what they’re going through. Neither of those is a real barrier. You don’t have to have hit a low point, and you don’t have to have the words figured out. Figuring it out together is the whole job.
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Oak Tree Behavioral Services has licensed clinicians at our Lakewood, Centennial, and Northglenn locations, with telehealth available across Colorado. [Reach out here](#) to get your benefits verified and book your first appointment.
*Kevin Schlegel, PsyD, LPC is the clinical director of Oak Tree Behavioral Services.*
