What to Expect

This is the first step of becoming a client of OGTN. Intake is generally conducted through a telephone interview where potential clients provide their contact information, including home address, phone number, and email address. Clients will be asked to complete an initial screening form and discuss what interested them in pursuing services with OGTN. Potential clients will be informed of and sent an invite to the Client Portal which is where a client will complete forms requiring client signatures, video call links to join the assessment and subsequent individual sessions, and upload necessary documentation for OGTN staff.

An email address is necessary for someone to receive services through OGTN.

During intake, clients will receive an explanation of and will be sent the following forms to their email addresses that need to be completed prior to the assessment including:

• Informed Consent for Services
• Acknowledgement of Receipt of Client Handbook
• Release of Information for Client’s emergency contact
• Additional screening form

At Intake, clients will be informed of uploading their photo ID and insurance cards into the Client Portal. At the end of Intake, a prospective client will be scheduled for the Assessment appointment.

Information to be uploaded into the Client Portal by the prospective client: 

• Photo of the client’s state issued identification card (photo ID).
• If the client's photo ID is not issued by the state of Ohio, the client must provide a piece of mail addressed to the client to confirm Ohio residency. Mail must be sent by a financial institution, government office, utility company, employer, or educational insitution.
• Photo of the client’s health insurance card (if the client has one).

This is an interview with the prospective client. Clients will be asked to provide information on topics including but not limited to the following:

• General demographic information
• Current involvement with gambling
• Physical health history and current medical concerns and care
• Mental health history including past and current services received
• Current and past medications
• Current and past substance use
• Current social supports
• General family, employment, and social history

Assessments generally take an hour and a half to two hours to complete. After Assessment, clients will be scheduled for their initial appointment with their assigned counselor.

Following Assessment, an established client will start meeting with their counselor for sessions. This will include service planning and regular meetings for the counselor and client to discuss the client's concerns and goals. Although OGTN is focused on serving clients experiencing gambling-related harm, sessions and service planning can include other concerns and goals outside of gambling.

Although clients vary on how much time they may receive counseling, clients will receive a Discharge Plan nearing the completion of services. This will include resources for the client to pursue after counseling and a review of skills and strategies that have assisted the client in their personal journey in preventing gambling-related harm. 

Successful Discharge — Clients who have completed all identified personal goals and have maintained their identified progress will receive a successful discharge from services.

Involuntary Discharge — Although all efforts will be made to serve a client through OGTN, the following situations can result in involuntary discharge:

• Threatening or harassing staff or fellow clients.
• Disclosing private information of a fellow client.
• Consistently missing schedule appointments. If three consecutive appoints are missed without prior notice within 24 hours, a client will be contacted to develop a plan to prevent missing appointments. If the client cannot agree to a plan or does not attend continuing appointments as scheduled, they will be subject to discharge.
• Bringing prohibited items including illegal substances and alcohol or weapons to OGTN offices.
• Refusal to complete clinically necessary meetings and paperwork, including assessment updates, service plans, and forms requiring a client's signature.
• Continued attempts to attend sessions while actively driving or while in public areas without any expectation of privacy.