SUNY Potdam

Your first appointment is intended to be a meaningful and empowering experience that furthers your well being and growth.  We hope it sets the foundation for an informed and collaborative relationship between you and your counselor. We look forward to meeting and working with you!

Making your first appointment:

• We know it isn't always easy to reach out and seek help. To make the process of a little easier, here are some tips to follow for making your initial appointment:
• When you make your appointment, feel free to acknowledge whether you wish to speak with a male or female clinician. 
• You may also share whether or not you were referred to the Counseling Center or decided to seek our services on your own. 
• When you sign up for an appointment, you are not required to describe specifics relating to why you are seeking the help of a counselor. 
• All efforts will be made to get you an appointment as soon as possible. 
• However, if you are in a crisis or emergency situation where your own safety or another person’s safety is at risk, it may be necessary to explain the urgency of your request to see a staff clinician.
  

What to expect at your first appointment:

Stage 1: Arrival

• The length of your first appointment will be under an hour and a half. This includes
• 15-20 minutes for you to fill out our intake form at a computer kiosk in our waiting room, 10-15 minutes for your counselor to review your form and 50 minutes to talk to your counselor.  
• After you check with our office manager, you will be directed to a computer kiosk and instructed on how to start the intake form. 
• When you are done, you will wait a few more minutes before meeting your therapist. Our waiting room has some interesting and beneficial reading materials, and the computer kiosks have web browsing and email ability. Information gathering is part of the first appointment.
• Any student that arrives more than 10 minutes past any of his or her appointment start times will be asked to reschedule the appointment at a future date.
  

Stage 2: Information Gathering

• Information gathering is part of the first appointment. You can anticipate spending some time with your therapist responding to both verbal and written questions. All questions are asked in order gain a comprehensive understanding of the difficulty you are facing and identify the most beneficial way to proceed.
• Some questions will be about prior counseling and/or psychiatric experience. If you are already prescribed psycho-pharmacological medications, it is very helpful for you to know their names and the dosages you are taking.
• If appropriate to your experience, it is also important to have the names and addresses of your counselor from home and the medical practitioner that prescribes your medications. Your counselor will carefully explain the boundaries that safeguard your privacy and confidentiality. She or he will also concretely explain the procedural guidelines that we comply with to assure client safety and our own ethical security.
• You are strongly encouraged to read our General Policies & Procedures (PDF) online before your first appointment. This same document will be presented to you as a Consent for Services form and you will be asked to electronically sign this document as part of the intake process.
  

Stage 3: Establishing a Rapport

• The most important part of your first appointment is the rapport you and your counselor are able to establish in this meeting.
• All of our therapists are licensed mental health counselors. They are skilled clinicians that bring to their work a wealth of experience and knowledge. 
• Most of all, they genuinely love working with Potsdam students and becoming trusted helpers that can contribute to your health and productivity during your time in our community.