Using Web-Based Technology to Facilitate Client Engagement

To meet the needs of clients, mental health clinics must offer responsive, organized intake procedures. Clients who receive rapid intervention when they request therapy services are more likely to attend and benefit from therapy. The present study examined the effects of implementing a web-based scheduling program on treatment delays and first session attendance. Results indicated that the use of a web-based scheduling system significantly reduced the number of days clients waited for a first appointment and increased the number of kept appointments. Additionally, clients provided with an immediate response to their request for treatment successfully terminated from therapy after fewer sessions.