Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Return to Search

Tools for a Behavioral Health Appointment

Guidance for American Indian and Alaskan Natives providing tools to prepare for a behavioral health appointment.

Final

Issued by: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Issue Date: August 19, 2020

These tools can help you prepare for your behavioral health appointment. Each one includes a copy you can download and take with you to your appointment.

 

Your Concerns

The sample questions below can help prepare you for your first appointment with your behavioral health provider. There are lots of other questions you can ask to help determine what you want to cover, so this doesn't represent every question.

  • What do you want from therapy?
  • What concerns do you want to cover?
  • Your family?
  • Your significant other?
  • Your kids?
  • Work?
  • Medications?
  • Other?
  • If you've been to counseling before, what worked? What didn't work?
  • What are you willing to do in between appointments?
  • What are you expecting from the practitioner?

Questions for the Provider

The sample questions below can be useful to ask during your first appointment with your behavioral health practitioner. There are lots of other questions you can ask to help determine what will make you comfortable, and this is not a comprehensive list. You should plan to ask for whatever information you need to make a good decision for yourself.

Developing a treatment plan
  • How often do you recommend a session?
  • How long are treatment plans on average?
  • What if I decide I don't want to come any more?
Session variability
  • Can we meet over the phone?
  • Can we meet over video chat?
  • Do you offer family sessions?
Scheduling
  • What if I can't make an appointment?
  • Do you have a no-show policy? What is it?
  • Do you have a late policy? What is it?
  • What if I need you between appointments?
  • Do you have any times you aren't available—Scheduled vacations? Holidays? etc.?
Health care coverage
  • What health care coverage options do you take?
  • What health care coverage companies are you a preferred provider for?
  • Do you file the health care coverage paperwork?
  • Are you connected with a hospital or doctor's office?
  • Do you believe medicine can help?
  • What do you ask of patients between sessions?
  • How do you measure progress?
  • What if I don't want to talk about something?
  • What is the procedure for mandatory reporting?

 

The referenced media source is missing and needs to be re-embedded.

 

HHS is committed to making its websites and documents accessible to the widest possible audience, including individuals with disabilities. We are in the process of retroactively making some documents accessible. If you need assistance accessing an accessible version of this document, please reach out to the guidance@hhs.gov.

DISCLAIMER: The contents of this database lack the force and effect of law, except as authorized by law (including Medicare Advantage Rate Announcements and Advance Notices) or as specifically incorporated into a contract. The Department may not cite, use, or rely on any guidance that is not posted on the guidance repository, except to establish historical facts.