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What to expect at your first mental health or substance use disorder visit

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If you’re wrestling with addiction or mental health issues, and have a desire to feel better, the best way to get help is to ask. Taking that first step can be tough. . But the sooner you get help, the better your chances of a successful recovery. Just contact us to schedule an appointment. If you need support now, call (518) 483-3261 or (518) 891-5535.

Before your visit, feel free to write down any questions. We’ll be happy to answer them. Asking questions helps you understand what you’re going through and how we can help you. And if you’ll feel more comfortable, bring a loved one to the appointment.

During your evaluation, don’t be afraid to be honest about your feelings, your symptoms, or behaviors you’re engaging in. We’re here to help, not judge. This information can let us create a more accurate diagnosis and treatment plan so that you’ll feel better.

Here’s what you can expect at a mental health or substance use disorder evaluation:

  1. Our highly-trained and comforting clinicians will meet with you and review your mental health or addiction history. For addiction treatment, they will also go over your substance of choice.  They will assess some of the external factors that may be affecting your addiction patterns or poor mental health. These can include personal trauma, family issues, or your employment history, among others. The initial evaluation normally takes about an hour, depending on your needs.
  2. Using this assessment, our clinicians will recommend different levels of care. They include outpatient individual or group therapy, referrals for medications, or in those instances where higher levels of care are needed, inpatient treatment.
  3. If our clinicians recommend inpatient treatment, our caregivers will guide you through every step along the way, from making phone calls and speaking with an intake coordinator to managing transportation and any required authorizations or approvals. We promise to make the process as easy as possible.

An evaluation can determine if mental health or substance use disorder treatment will help you; it will also diagnose your problem and lead to a better understanding of your condition, which will let our team find ways to treat you based on your needs.

Once you have a diagnosis, you can know what to expect. And if you need to take medication, it may help you get better control over your symptoms and improve how you function.

If you’re struggling with an addiction or a mental health condition, contact us today. We offer tele-mental health and other services. Need help now? Call our 24-hour Crisis Hotline: (518) 483-3261 or (518) 891-5535.