Initial Sessions
Note: Please do not book any appointments until we have spoken briefly and confirmed that we are a good fit for an Intake. Thank you.
For Adult patients paying for their own sessions and not living with their parents:
I do a two hour initial Intake session. This can be scheduled an hour each on two separate days or in one session.
For Children, Teens and Adult patients living at home & those whose parents are paying for treatment:
I use a four hour (total, not on the same day) inital Intake process. The reason I generally do a four hour Intake process is that it allows me to get to know your family better and do a thorough evaluation before making any diagnoses or treatment recommendations. During that time, I will be a consultant to your family and we will not yet be in a doctor-patient relationship. If, at the end of the Intake process, we feel it is a good fit, and you would like to continue working with me, then your child will be an “established patient” and we will begin treatment together.
Please note that I almost never prescribe medication on the first visit, even if your child has been on medication already. There are several reasons for this but the most important is that I like to do a thorough evaluation and come to my own diagnoses before considering medication for any child. If I think medication may be useful to consider, we can discuss at the Wrap-Up session the advantages and disadvantages of this option, as well as other important treatment components such as therapy and exercise.
Hour One: child/teen alone
Hour Two: BOTH parents/guardians together
Hour Three: child/teen alone again (on a separate day from Hour One)
Hour Four: Wrap-Up session with BOTH parents and child
If you have any questions about this process, please feel free to call me at 650.918.6789 or email me at jacobtowerymd@gmail.com If you have any technical questions about setting up the appointment, please feel free to call or text me.
I look forward to meeting your family and serving you.
Sincerely,
Jacob Towery, MD