New patient? - we'll call you to schedule an appointment
Getting Started
One of the first questions we will ask you is whether mental health is covered on your health insurance, whether you work for a company enrolled in our Employee Assistance Program or whether you plan to pay for the fees yourself. This will help determine which of our locations you'll visit for your counseling sessions and who you can be scheduled to see.
We accept Medicaid, most insurances and private pay. Lucas and Wood County residents may be eligible for financial assistance through the Lucas or Wood County Board Subsidies. For more information, please call us at 419-475-4449.
If you will be using your Employee Assistance Program (EAP), we will not need any insurance information from you. We will simply ask you for your employer so we can verify it against the list of companies participating in the program. Your employer will NOT know that you visited us unless you choose to tell them or if your visit is a mandatory referral (a condition of your continued employment with the company).
The scheduling specialist will then work with you to schedule your first appointment, called Intake.
Privacy & ConfidentialityIntake Questions
The Intake Professional will ask you several questions. You can be confident that we are very protective of your privacy and will keep this information confidential.
- Name – Please note that guardians can make appointments for the person they have guardianship for
- Address
- Phone Number
- Date of Birth
- Social Security Number
- Insurance Information
This process usually takes about 15-30 minutes.
Diagnostic Assessment
Next, you will meet with a Clinical Professional who will speak with you about your personal history, medical history, substance use, family history, current behaviors and existing or past physical, emotional and behavioral concerns. The Clinical Professional will complete the Diagnostic Assessment (DA) and set up an appointment with the treatment provider who will best meet your needs.
This evaluation usually takes 60 minutes. Some questions are very personal, but are necessary to evaluate mental health and/or substance use needs and work with you to make the most appropriate treatment recommendation for you, your child(ren) or family members.
Before Your First Visit
We’ll give you a reminder call a day or two before your appointment. Rest assured that if we need to leave a message on an answering machine or with someone other than you, we’ll only state that “Counselor’s Name” office is calling to confirm your appointment at the determined date and time. We will not disclose any personal information – your privacy is very important to us! In the meantime, we’ll verify your insurance information such as the co-pay and benefits available to you. We may call you to make sure you fully understand the benefits you are eligible to receive, and to let you know if you need to get a referral from your general physician.
At Your First Appointment
Arrive about 15-30 minutes early to fill out some paperwork, just as you would at any health care provider.
Please bring your insurance card with you so we may photocopy it.
We may also need a list of medications you take – along with the dosages.
When you arrive, please check in at the designated area. If you did not fill out the paperwork before arriving, you will have a chance to fill it out at this time.
Someone on our staff will bring you to a private room to see if you have any questions about the paperwork. He or she will also go over some important information such as Harbor’s privacy practices, your insurance verification information (if applicable), and your rights and responsibilities as our client. We will make a photocopy of your insurance card (if applicable) and identification card, like a driver’s license, and collect your co-pay at this time, if you have one.
Treatment Begins
Planning your course of treatment at Harbor is a partnership between you and your treatment team. During your initial assessment, you will discuss the problems you are facing and the goals you wish to attain. The assessor will recommend the type of treatment for you based on best clinical practices for the problems or situation you reported. Together you will decide what will work best for you. treatment recommendations may include a group or individual therapy in addition to psychological testing or medication therapy depending on your personal needs. our goal is to assist you with making positive life changes, reducing symptoms, coping with life’s challenges, improving your quality of life and living a more productive life.
Special Circumstances
The descriptions above are meant as a general guideline to help you understand the process of becoming a client with Harbor. There are occasionally special circumstances which may need to be addressed.
If you live outside our Northwest Ohio/Southeast Michigan service area, we will take the same general information as described above, and refer you to one of our contracted counselors in your area.
If you are a Harbor employee, your Employee Assistance Program offers confidential services with local counselors not employed by Harbor. As with all EAP services, your choice to take advantage of this service will not be reported to your employer unless you choose to tell them, or if it is a mandatory referral.