What to Expect

After you schedule an appointment, you will receive one appointment reminder via email the day before your appointment (unless you are booking a same-day appointment). This email will clarify your time, provider, and whether it is a virtual or in-person appointment. The email will contain a link to your myhealth portal. Please ensure to check the portal in case you have any questionnaire invitations from your provider (there is always one before a first appointment).

When you arrive for your appointment, you will head to the front desk, where you will give your name and the type of appointment you are there for. You may be asked to fill out some forms while you wait for your appointment. If it is your first time seeing a therapist at Emmons, you will be asked to fill out a brief consent to treatment and an initial questionnaire survey of your needs. You will also be provided with an info sheet with our services and policies. If you are arriving for a routine appointment, there should not be any paperwork unless your provider has requested an additional survey, often discussed directly beforehand. 

Once you meet with your provider, your provider will introduce themselves, describe a bit about themselves and their approach to set up the session, and will inquire about your history of treatment and what brings you in for support at this time. The first session is often more structured, because the counselor will be assessing your needs, gathering your treatment history, and treatment planning in order to lay a solid foundation for therapy. The counselor will share their professional clinical input on how they could best support you and will offer to schedule follow up routine appointments at the end of the session. Follow up routine sessions are typically far less structured and much more free flowing conversations, unless you enjoy the guided structures of the initial appointment—simply let your provider know what your preference is.

We hold walk-ins every weekday from 1 pm–3 pm. During this time, there is a therapist who does not have any scheduled appointments and is available to talk to students on a walk-in basis. Wait times can vary depending on how many other students come in during this time. You can always call ahead to find out if there is a wait if you prefer. At the start of a walk in, you will be asked to fill out a brief questionnaire to assess depression, anxiety, and any possible safety risks; alongside a consent to treatment. During a walk-in appointment, your counselor will lead the start of the session with a brief assessment of your needs and any safety concerns before shifting into a more open free flowing conversation. During the walk-in, a counselor will do their best to support you appropriately and will offer treatment recommendations. A walk-in appointment has no set time limit, but is typically shorter than a scheduled formal appointment of 50 minutes.