First Therapy Session | What could it look like? Intake Example for Interns: A Ph.D. Teaches You
Summary
Highlights
Dr. Snow White explains the role of a pre-licensed counselor, introduces her supervisors, and outlines the limits of patient confidentiality, including instances of safety threats or abuse against minors and the elderly.
The patient discusses her primary reason for seeking help: depression related to her husband's alcoholism, verbal abuse, and a recent incident of physical intimidation. The therapist explores the patient's emotional response and the history of these stressors.
The assessment continues with a discussion of the physical impact of the stressor, including appetite changes, sleep issues, and existing medical conditions like IBS. The patient expresses concerns about her coping mechanisms, specifically excessive exercise.
The patient reveals a past diagnosis of generalized anxiety from high school and describes a recent panic attack triggered by her home environment, noting that her anxiety currently affects her parenting.
The session covers the patient's upbringing in a chaotic home environment, her educational background as a nurse, and current financial status, while emphasizing how physical health and past traumas relate to current mental health.
The therapist conducts a family history review, exploring substance abuse, mental illness, and suicide within the family. The patient clarifies her goals for therapy, which include improving her marriage and finding personal happiness and safety.