Neurodivergence and Therapy Intake: Accommodating Needs to Improve the Intake Process

Deciding to start therapy can be a difficult decision. That’s even more true for neurodivergent clients who have had negative experiences with therapy in the past. If the intake is overwhelming, confusing, or just a terrible fit it’s unlikely that clients will schedule another appointment and get the support they need.

Even if you feel ready for support, it’s completely normal to feel unsure about what that very first session will be like. If you’re feeling a little nervous, curious, or even excited, you’re not alone. At Heart, we will work with you to ensure that the entire process is as neurodivergent friendly and affirmative as possible, we are often open to reasonable accommodations to make this process smoother. Read on to find out how we adapt the intake process to accommodate our neurodivergent clients.

1. Let’s Talk First

Before meeting, I like to talk with clients over the phone to make sure we are a good fit. This is a short, 15 minute free call to talk about your needs and goals and what I can offer. Not all therapists are the right match for all clients, so I don’t want to waste your time with a lengthy intake process if it’s clear it won’t work out. Some things that can be discussed are the services I offer, your need for crisis services (I don’t offer this), my availability and capacity for frequency of meetings, my approach, and what would help you in the process. If you have sensory sensitivities, are a visual learner, or have other accommodations you know tend to work for you we can talk about that. This is also an opportunity for you to ask questions and get to know me before we even meet.

If you decide you would like to schedule an intake, I will share a video and photos of our office to help you feel more familiar with the space before you even arrive.

2. Sharing Your Story—At Your Own Pace

Something that I often hear from neurodivergent clients about past experiences with therapy is there were “too many questions”. Being put on the spot to answer what feels like a never ending list of interview questions can create a lot of anxiety and overwhelm. So we will go at your own pace, the intake is meant for us both to start to get to know each other rather than feel like an interview. Some things you might want to share could include:

• A specific concern or conflict
  

• Recent stressors
  

• Patterns or challenges you’ve noticed
  

• Hopes for change
  

There’s no right or wrong way to share. You don’t need to prepare anything or present your life perfectly. I will guide with gentle questions to help you express what matters most.

3. Reviewing Paperwork and Confidentiality

For many neurodivergent clients, paperwork is overwhelming. All therapists need to get certain forms signed by the end of the first session, including

• Informed consent: what to expect in therapy and the therapist’s limits in scope of practice, confidentiality and limits to confidentiality

• Practice policies: cancellation policies, how to reschedule when possible, social media, communication, and ending services

• Notice of privacy practices: how I protect your confidential information

• Payment or insurance details: consent to bill insurance, making sure I have your insurance information correct

• Demographic information: making sure I have your contact information correct

• Standard intake: gathering some basic information about the reason you are seeking therapy, this reduces the number of questions I have to ask in the first appointment
  

This step ensures you feel safe and informed about how your information is protected, but I know it’s a lot to take in. I will send these forms to you in advance to review at your own pace before we go through them in intake.

4. Clarifying Goals Together

A big part of your first session is identifying your goals. These might be broad (“communicate better”) or specific (“stop having the same argument every week”). I will help translate your hopes into clear, workable goals you’ll collaborate on in future sessions.

Something I hear from clients who have had bad experiences in the past is that they want to work on improving their life, but it’s so hard to remember to implement what is worked on in therapy. We will also talk about your neurodivergence, accommodations, and what truly helps you be successful. It’s helpful for me to know what has or hasn’t worked in the past so we can work together to try some new ways of working with your brain instead of against it.

5. Getting a Feel for the Fit

Therapy works best when you feel comfortable with your therapist. The first session is your chance to pay attention to:

• Do you feel heard and understood?
  

• Do you feel safe expressing yourself?
  

• Does the therapist’s style match what you’re looking for?

If at the end of the session you have feedback for me or reasonable ways I can change my approach, we can definitely talk about that and work together to increase chances of success.

6. Ending with a Plan

Before the session wraps up, we’ll discuss next steps:

• How often we’ll meet and length of future sessions (I can do 30-50 minutes)
  

• Any homework or reflections to try
  

• What the next few sessions will focus on
  

We can also talk about what helps you outside of therapy, what resources you currently have to tap into, and if having the plan written out or emailed would be helpful.

Final Thoughts

Your first therapy or relationship session isn’t about being perfect, having everything figured out, or saying the “right” thing. It’s about showing up. It’s a starting point—one built on safety, understanding, and a shared goal of helping you move toward healthier patterns, stronger relationships, and greater personal well-being.