It’s completely normal to feel a little nervous before your first mental health appointment. Whether you’re coming in for anxiety, depression, stress, or something you’re still trying to understand, taking the first step toward support is a big deal—and we’re here to make sure you feel comfortable and supported from the start.
At Transitions Counseling and Consulting, we’ve spent more than a decade helping children, teens, and adults navigate their mental health journeys. This guide is designed to help you prepare for your first appointment so you know what to expect and can focus on getting the support you need.
You can schedule your appointment online or by calling our team directly at 602-363-0629. If you book online, we’ll review your request and send a confirmation by text and email within 24 hours — or reach out if there’s anything we need to clarify. If you schedule over the weekend, no need to worry if you don’t see a confirmation immediately—we’ll follow up with your confirmation on Sunday afternoon.
Once confirmed, you’ll receive a secure link to join the patient portal, where you can complete your registration and prepare for your visit.
After your appointment is confirmed, you’ll receive an email with instructions to set up your patient portal. This secure platform is where you’ll access appointment information, telehealth links, billing details, and more. It’s also how we’ll communicate with you about your care. The link to our portal is on our website and also located here.
If you run into trouble registering, give us a call. Sometimes we just need to verify your email or date of birth to get things sorted.
Need help setting up your account? Click here for our step-by-step portal guide.
We recommend completing your intake forms before your first mental health appointment. This not only saves time at check-in, but it also gives your provider the background needed to understand your needs and develop a personalized treatment plan.
Here’s what you can expect to complete:
Filling out your forms ahead of time helps your provider come into the session informed and ready to support you.
You’ll get a reminder 24 hours before your appointment. You can also view your appointment details anytime in the patient portal.
Need a guide for telehealth? Click here to see our telehealth instructions and tips.
Your first mental health appointment is all about learning more about you—what you’re struggling with, what’s worked before, and what kind of support might be most helpful now.
Some clients are a great fit for individual therapy. Others may benefit from more structured services like our accredited Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), or medication management with one of our psychiatric providers.
Your clinician will take time to understand your concerns and recommend the most appropriate care options. From there, you’ll decide what treatment is right for you, and together, you’ll plan the next steps and schedule future appointments.
It’s normal for the first appointment to feel question-heavy—that’s intentional. We structure it this way to ensure we’re creating a treatment plan that takes your full history and current concerns into account. Skipping this step could lead us in the wrong direction, and our goal is to start your care on the right path from the very beginning.
If you’re ready to take that first step, we’re here to help. Schedule your first mental health appointment today—and let’s start the journey together.
The Transitions Team takes great pride in offering exceptional services.
Schedule an appointment with our office to change your life today.
