What to prepare before intake

Intake works best when the practical details are organized before the first clinical conversation.

For families, that means sharing availability, urgency, basic goals, school or work constraints, and preferences that affect fit. For practices, it means separating scheduling facts from clinical context and making both available to the right person at the right time.

A strong intake process should answer four questions quickly: who is this for, what kind of help is needed, which clinician is likely to fit, and what could block the first appointment.

Preparation does not need to feel bureaucratic. It should feel like the practice is already listening.