First, we listen.
Then, we plan.
That’s where we start.

For the grown-ups

Your first appointment,
step by step.

The first session looks different from a typical therapy visit. We spend more time gathering information, reviewing how therapy works, and discussing the plan for treatment. Here is how to prepare and what we will cover.

1. Start with the front office.

   Use my profile with Dr. Jackie Jiang & Associates to ask about services, or call 309-944-7833. Let the office know you are interested in seeing Anna Pepping. Scheduling, insurance questions, fees, and intake arrangements go through the office.

   Visit my practice profile

2. Complete the forms and gather your questions.

   Complete the intake and consent forms the office sends before the appointment when possible. Have relevant treatment or school information available, along with anything the office has requested. If custody or guardianship arrangements apply, ask which documents are needed.

   Write down the main concerns, a few recent examples, what you have already tried, and what you hope will improve. You do not need a polished summary. Tell the office in advance about communication, sensory, mobility, or other access needs so we can discuss helpful arrangements.

3. Come with your child and plan to participate.

   A parent or legal guardian should attend the first appointment with the child. Please plan to stay and participate rather than treat this as a drop-off visit. Your knowledge of your child and family is an important part of the intake.

   Your child will participate in the appointment as well, in a way that fits their age, communication style, and comfort. We will make room for their perspective while I learn from you. If there is sensitive information you would prefer to discuss privately, let me know.

4. We discuss the presenting problems: what brings you in.

   “Presenting problems” simply means the concerns that led you to seek therapy. We will talk about what is happening, when it started, how often it happens, and how it affects life at home, at school, or with other people.

   I will ask about relevant history, your child’s strengths, supports, previous services, and what has or has not helped. Concrete examples are useful: “Getting to school takes an hour of arguing,” or “Worries keep them awake most nights.” Both your observations and your child’s experience help us understand where to start.

5. We review confidentiality and how therapy works.

   We will review confidentiality, its limits, and what those mean for your child’s care. This includes how privacy is handled, how caregiver communication fits into treatment, and circumstances involving safety or required reporting.

   We will also talk about expectations for participating in therapy and leave room for questions. I will explain these ideas to your child in a way that fits their age and understanding.

6. We talk about therapy goals and the treatment plan.

   We will discuss what you and your child want help with and identify initial therapy goals. That might mean getting through routines with less conflict, managing worry, strengthening emotional regulation, or improving family communication—depending on your child’s needs.

   The treatment plan connects those goals with the work we will do in therapy. We will discuss the initial approach, caregiver involvement, and what meaningful changes in everyday life could look like. The plan can be adjusted as we learn more.

7. We identify the first steps and what comes next.

   Before we finish, we will discuss the starting plan, questions that still need attention, and follow-up arrangements. The office handles scheduling. Later sessions will have more room for the ongoing therapeutic work, which may include conversation, play, art, books, games, or practicing skills.

   The intake is a foundation for that work. It is not meant to fit a whole course of therapy into one appointment.