All of us at the Counseling Center Group want to make you feel welcomed as you take the first step towards living a life you love. You might be wondering what this first appointment will look like. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect, so you can arrive feeling more at ease and informed.
Intake Process
You’ve likely been sent an invite via email from TherapyPortal to create an account using our client portal. On the portal, you will find all required paperwork that needs to be completed prior to your first appointment. Paperwork includes:
- CCG Office Policies
- Consent Forms
- Client History Form
- Client Information Form
- Emergency Contacts Form
If you have questions regarding any of these forms, don’t hesitate to reach out beforehand—we’re happy to walk you through them.
Arlington, VA Office Location and Parking
Address:
1655 Fort Myer Dr
Suite 330
Arlington, VA 22209
[Click here for driving directions]
Metro Access:
The Park Place building is a 5-minute walk from the Rosslyn Metro Stop. Come up the escalator and bear left through the left side fare gates. (Overhead signs will read “Ft. Myer Drive”).
Once in the open mezzanine, make an immediate hard right to go up the stairs that lead up to the street. You are now on Ft. Myer Drive. Walk to the left, cross Wilson Blvd at the corner and continue down Ft. Myer Drive to the end of the block – the building is just past the overpass you walk under.
Parking:
There are multiple options for parking if you decide to drive to your appointment.
- There are metered spaces on Fort Myer Drive, Lynn Street, and on other surrounding streets. Arlington County uses Parkmobile to pay for metered parking using your phone. Click here to see a parking map of the area.
- There is a parking garage in the Park Place building ($15/2 hours).
- There is free two-hour parking at the Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima) – about a 4-minute walk to the building. To reach the memorial, continue on Ft. Myer Drive past the building, cross Rt. 50, and proceed until the stop sign (the entrance to Ft. Myer will be on your right). Make a left at the stop sign and another left into the memorial. If you park towards the rear of the memorial, you can walk up to Ft. Myer Drive and cross the bridge over Rt. 50 to the building (about 2 blocks). The building is right in front of you between the two one-way streets.
Entry:
Upon entering the main building you’ll want to take the elevator to the third floor. The main building lobby does feature cold brew till 11:00am and includes additional seating if needed. There is no need to check-in with the main building concierge. Please note: If your appointment is at 6:00pm try to arrive prior to 6:00pm as the building door may be locked, and the elevator requires a badge to use past 6:00pm.
Once you enter our door on the third floor, take a seat and your therapist should come out to find you. They will likely say your name and wait for you to identify yourself.
We look forward to welcoming you!
Helpful Tips for Your First Visit
Your first session is an opportunity for your therapist to get to know you—what brought you in, what’s been on your mind, and how you’ve been feeling.
- Plan to arrive a few minutes early to get settled.
- Bring any questions or notes you want to reference.
- Dress comfortably—this is your space to relax and be yourself.
It’s okay if you don’t know exactly where to start—your therapist will help guide the conversation.
After the Session
After the first session it is also normal to feel a mix of things—relief, hope, exhaustion, uncertainty. You might even wonder if you “said the right things.” The truth is, there’s no right or wrong way to show up. Just by taking that first step, you’ve already done something brave and important. The CCG clinician and intake teams are also always available to answer any questions and to help you navigate your time at the Counseling Center Group.
