This page describes how the mental health care system in the United States is generally structured. It is not medical advice.

An intake appointment is the first appointment with a mental health provider or organization.

What Happens During an Intake?

The provider and patient introduce themselves to one another and the provider gathers information, usually by asking questions. This information provides the context for the provider’s care.

Types of Intakes

Intakes can look different depending on the kind of provider and the service being sought. For example, a psychiatric intake is conducted by a psychiatric provider (such as a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner) and tends to be more medication-focused than a therapy intake, which is conducted by a non-prescribing provider (such as a social worker or counselor).

Before and After the Intake Appointment

Getting to the intake itself involves a few steps. Initial contact and scheduling with a mental health organization can happen by phone, online, or in person. Before the appointment, organizations often provide access to a patient portal and paperwork to complete prior to the first appointment. It's worth knowing that even if similar forms have been filled out elsewhere, they are typically required again, since information isn't automatically shared across organizations.

The intake is just the starting point. Because care is individualized, there is no standardized process for what happens after an intake appointment. However, there is usually some form of care coordination. For example, the patient may be scheduled for a follow-up or redirected to another service or provider.

Want to Learn More?

The Mental Health System Toolkit explains different types of appointments, maps what happens before, during, and after appointments, and provides tools for organizing appointment-related information.

Curious about how people can move through the mental health system? Visit What Is A Referral?