Intake conversations in mental health services: Where change begins

Intake conversations in mental health services: Where change begins

User profile image SickKids CCMH Learning Institute - EENet Yoda Master

Event date: -

Event location: Online

Event Link: https://cvent.me/5MlwZK

Event type: Single day (a day or less)

Date: June 20, 2025

Time: 9 a.m. to noon ET

Facilitator: Scot Cooper, RP.

This training is suitable for:

  • Mental Health Professionals: psychotherapists, counsellors, psychologists, social workers

Level of training: Introductory

Client age category: For professionals who work with clients aged 6 to adulthood. 

Description: Intake conversations can be a critical juncture for individuals seeking mental health services, often inducing significant stress as people are required to share their personal stories to access care. These conversations can profoundly shape the course of service and affect the individuals. Therefore, great responsibility lies with intake staff to assist people to experience safety and join as active participants in the intake and care process.

This training will uncover how to transform intake conversations from mere information gathering to a dialogic and generative experience that sparks hope for clients. Participants will learn how to inform intake conversations through brief therapies, emphasize meaning-making, eliciting and expanding upon individuals’ competencies, while facilitating discussions about problems in a different light.

Learning objectives:

  • Gain an understanding of common concepts shaping intake processes and a shift in mindset conducive to change.
  • Learn a process that prioritizes competency-focused experiences to drive change.
  • Explore various questions that elicit differences, possibilities, and hope that can inform the next steps.
  • Learn a different approach to discussing problems to make visible of existing help and support.

Registration fee: General $150 | Student $135 

Learn more and register at:   https://cvent.me/5MlwZK