Psychotherapy Intake Form

What is a Psychotherapy Intake Form?

A Psychotherapy Intake Form is a tool that mental health professionals can utilize to gather important information about a client before beginning therapy sessions. It is typically the first step in the therapy process. It allows the therapist to get to know the client, understand their mental health concerns, and gather essential medical information to develop an effective treatment plan.

The therapy intake form covers many topics, including the client's personal details, such as emergency contact information, contact details, medical history, mental health history, current symptoms, and any medications or supplements they take. It may also ask about family history, social support, and previous therapy experiences. By gathering this information, the therapist can better understand the client's mental health, assess any risks or concerns, and tailor their approach to best support and address the client's needs.

Completing a Psychotherapy Intake Form can also be a valuable experience for the client. It allows them to reflect on their mental health concerns and treatment goals for therapy. It can also help establish trust and rapport with the therapist.

How does this template work?

Here are the steps involved in using/filling out a Psychotherapy Intake Form template:

Step 1: Download the template

You can access the template by clicking the "Use template" option to open it on the Carepatron website. You can also click "Download" for a fillable PDF version. You may then utilize this resource as a telehealth form for your online clients or as a physical copy for in-person clients.

Step 2: Allow clients to complete the form

Allow potential clients time to complete the form before your first session together. Once completed, be sure to answer any questions they may have about the therapeutic process. Alternatively, allow them to complete the form, then take some time to review it before your session - this will enable you to create a profile and get a sense of who your client is.

Step 3: Work together with your client

Upon form completion, you can then meet with your client to discuss options for moving forward. For example, you may refer them to a counselor or other services, or you may discuss their/your concerns and plans for therapy practices.

Step 4: Securely save this document

Finally, you can securely store this document on the Carepatron app. This is important because this patient data is confidential and is considered protected health information. Storing allows you to revisit the document when necessary for data validation, tracking, and progress monitoring purposes.

When would you use this template?

Mental health professionals use Psychotherapy Intake Forms as an essential tool for beginning the therapy process. Here are some scenarios where a therapist may use counseling intake forms from this template:

• New clients: When a therapist starts working with a new client, they will typically have them complete an intake form. This helps the therapist understand the client's background, symptoms, and goals for therapy.
• Return clients: Even if a therapist has worked with a client before, they may ask them to complete an updated intake form if they have had any significant changes in their life or mental health.
• Referrals: When a therapist receives a referral from another healthcare professional, they may ask the new client to complete an intake form. This helps ensure the therapist has all the necessary information to provide the most effective treatment.
• Crises: In emergencies, such as when a client is experiencing severe symptoms or thoughts of self-harm, a therapist may ask them to complete an intake form to gather important information quickly.

Benefits of using a Psychotherapy Intake Form

A Psychotherapy Intake Form template can provide several benefits to the therapist and client. Here are some of the key advantages:

• Comprehensive information gathering: By using a standardized intake form, therapists can ensure that they collect all the necessary information about the client's mental health history, symptoms, and goals for therapy.
• Time-saving: Intake forms can save time during the first session, as the therapist already understands the client's background and can focus on developing a treatment plan.
• Increased client engagement: Completing an intake form can help clients feel more engaged in their treatment and give them a sense of ownership over their mental health journey.
• Improved treatment outcomes: Therapists can develop more targeted and effective treatment plans by thoroughly understanding the client's mental health history and symptoms.
• Consistency: Therapists can ensure consistency by using the same intake form for each client, ensuring they collect the same information, and maintaining a consistent treatment approach.

Research & evidence

Mental health professionals have used Psychotherapy Intake Forms because they recognize the importance of gathering comprehensive information about a client's background, symptoms, and goals for therapy.

When intake forms are utilized within care settings, building quality rapport and collecting data is essential for developing a therapeutic relationship (Pashak & Heron, 2022).

Engaging clients during the intake process is also important. Nakash et al. (2008) found that patients’ initiation of information influenced providers’ evaluation of its credibility, rapport-building, and intake visit success, with variations based on patient and provider demographics and preferences. Tailoring communication to patients’ preferences and fostering explicit discussions about information exchange styles can enhance provider decision-making and patient care.

Over time, intake forms have become increasingly standardized, with many therapists using similar templates to gather client information.

References

Nakash, O., Dargouth, S., Oddo, V., Gao, S., & Alegría, M. (2008). Patient initiation of information: Exploring its role during the mental health intake visit. Patient Education and Counseling, 75(2), 220–226. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2008.10.010

Pashak, T. J., & Heron, M. R. (2022). Build rapport and collect data: A teaching resource on the clinical interviewing intake. Discover Psychology, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-022-00019-5