Before your first session with a provider, you will likely receive an email containing a secure link to a series of intake forms. Completing these forms may take some time, but they are important for Grow Therapy and your provider to gather the necessary information to ensure you receive the proper care. Therefore, it's essential to fill out these documents thoughtfully and accurately.
⚠️ Note: If you have questions or hesitancies about completing your forms, speak to your provider directly about your concerns. You can send your provider a secure message in your Client Portal, or discuss these forms in your session.
Before you begin
When you book your appointment through the Grow Therapy Marketplace, you are required to acknowledge the following policies:
Consent to receive text messages and other communications from Grow Therapy about your account and Grow’s services. Click here for more information on data privacy.
This guide covers intake forms and measures your provider may request. Unlike the policies, these forms are personalized to your mental health journey and are completed on your own time or during a session with your provider.
Intake forms
Grow's intake form collects biopsychosocial information for your provider to consider while developing a care strategy personalized to your current experience and needs. These questions may include why you are seeking counseling, your expectations of counseling, a request for any family history of mental health and medical issues, a history of relationships, your career status, and your family situation.
Measurement-based forms
Mental health check-ins
If your provider decides to send intake forms before your first appointment, you will receive an email notification asking you to complete your "mental health check-in." This check-in may include several questionnaires designed to gather information about your well-being, including tools like the GAD-7, PHQ-9, TA, QOL, and the intake form.
Measurement-based forms defined
Your mental health check-ins include questionnaires that help your therapist provide measurement-informed care (MIC). MIC is most effective when integrated into therapy, so you will be encouraged to complete check-ins regularly. This process offers valuable insights for your therapist and empowers you to take an active role in your treatment. Your therapist may send you the following questionnaires:
GAD7 (General Anxiety Disorder-7)
GAD7 (General Anxiety Disorder-7)
This self-administered anxiety questionnaire assesses and evaluates your health status from the previous two weeks.
PHQ9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9)
PHQ9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9)
This self-administered questionnaire is used to screen, diagnose, monitor, and measure the severity of depression symptoms.
TA (Therapeutic Alliance)
TA (Therapeutic Alliance)
This questionnaire was adapted from the Scale To Assess Therapeutic Relationships (STAR) and Brief Revised Working Alliance Inventory (BR-WAI) measures, standardized questionnaires that evaluate the quality of a client's relationship with their provider.
QOL (Quality of Life)
QOL (Quality of Life)
The Quality of Life questionnaire was modified from various measures that assess a person's daily functioning and well-being.
Review scores and results
While you complete an intake form once for each provider requesting one, your mental health check-ins, or measurement-based forms, are sent every few appointments, following your insurer's or provider's preferred schedule.
How are results calculated?
Responses to each measurement-based questionnaire are scored in points and then summed to produce a total score. The following example illustrates how the PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) is scored:
How do I track my progress?
Once you begin completing your measures at a regular cadence, you can track your progress over time. Click here to learn more about viewing your scores to these questionnaires in your Client Portal.
Additional forms
Each provider on Grow Therapy manages their own private practice. Your provider may request that you fill out additional forms. This process can differ by provider, and any additional forms will be sent to you directly by the provider.
Data usage
The information in your intake forms allows your selected provider to ensure they match your needs. If a provider decides they aren't a good fit, they may refer you to a different provider with different experience or specializations.
⚠️ Note: Even if a provider's qualifications meet your needs, you might still feel like it's not a good fit. You can ask your provider for a referral if this is the case. A reasonable provider wants to ensure you get the care you need, so don't be afraid to ask questions and find the right fit.