Everything You Need to Know Before Your Appointment
Your evaluation appointment is scheduled. You’re probably nervous, wondering what to expect, and maybe even considering canceling.
Don’t.
The anxiety you’re feeling right now is normal. But here’s what most people don’t realize: knowing exactly what happens during your evaluation makes it SO much easier. No surprises. No ambiguity. Just a straightforward process with a professional counselor.
This guide walks you through EXACTLY what happens during your evaluation – from the moment you walk in the door to when you receive your results. By the time you finish reading this, you’ll know more than 90% of people walking into their evaluation do.
Let’s break it down.
Before You Arrive: Prepare Yourself (Do This 24 Hours Before)
Your appointment starts before you arrive at the office.
Gather Your Documents and Bring these Essential items:
- Valid photo ID (driver’s license, passport, or state ID)
- Court order (if you have one – bring the original)
- Insurance card (if you have insurance)
Helpful (but optional):
- List of current medications
- Notes about your medical history
- Previous treatment records
- List of mental health diagnoses (if applicable)
Why these matter: The evaluator needs this information to complete an accurate assessment. Having it ready speeds up your appointment.
Prepare Your Mindset
- Get sleep the night before: You want to be clear-headed, not exhausted.
- Don’t use any substances that morning: Come clean and sober. This matters.
- Plan extra time: Arrive 15 minutes early. Rushing increases anxiety.
- Be honest with yourself: Decide right now that you’ll answer truthfully. This is the #1 factor in getting an accurate assessment.
The Evaluation Process: Five Detailed Stages
Stage 1: Arrival and Registration (10 minutes)
What happens: You arrive at the office. The receptionist greets you. You complete the paperwork.
Specifically:
- Sign in at the reception desk
- Receive the clipboard with forms
- Complete consent and confidentiality agreement
- Answer basic demographic questions (name, date of birth, address, phone)
- Indicate insurance information
- Sign privacy authorization (allows results to the court)
- Wait in the comfortable reception area
What the paperwork means:
The consent form explains:
- Confidentiality protections (your information is protected by law)
- What happens to your results (sent to court/attorney)
- Your rights in the evaluation process
- Duration and cost of evaluation
Pro tip: Read everything carefully. Ask questions if anything is unclear. This is YOUR information.
How you’ll feel: Nervous. That’s completely normal. Most people are anxious in this room. You’re not alone.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stage 2: Meet Your Evaluator and Orientation (5-10 minutes)
What happens: A licensed counselor calls you back to their office. They introduce themselves and explain the process.
The evaluator will:
- Welcome you (most are warm and professional)
- Introduce themselves and their credentials
- Explain what happens next
- Answer any immediate questions
- Explain confidentiality again
- Tell you how long the appointment takes (usually 90-120 minutes total)
What you learn:
- Your evaluator’s background and experience
- Exactly what you’ll be asked about
- That this isn’t a “test” with right/wrong answers
- That information is confidential
- What happens with your results
Why this matters: You’re establishing rapport with the person who will assess you. A good evaluator makes you comfortable sharing truthfully.
How you’ll feel: Still nervous, but slightly better knowing what’s coming. Good evaluators are calm and professional, which helps you relax.
Duration: 5-10 minutes
Stage 3: The Clinical Interview (60-90 minutes)
This is the main part of your evaluation: This is where the real assessment happens.
You’ll sit in a private office with your evaluator. They’ll ask detailed questions about your substance use and life. This section takes 60-90 minutes.
What They’ll Ask About: Substance Use History
Your first use:
- How old were you when you first used alcohol?
- How old were you when you first used drugs?
- What substance was it?
- What was the situation?
Your ongoing use:
- What substances have you used? (alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, opioids, methamphetamine, prescription pills, etc.)
- How often do you use each one?
- On a typical day/week, how much do you use?
- When was the last time you used it?
- What’s the longest you’ve gone without using?
- Have you tried to stop or cut back?
- What happens when you try to stop? (withdrawal symptoms?)
Why they ask: To understand your usage pattern, severity, and level of dependence.
What They’ll Ask About: Life Impact
Work and school:
- Has your substance use affected your job?
- Have you missed work because of use?
- Have you lost a job due to substance use?
- How is your school performance?
- Have you dropped out of school?
Relationships:
- How has substance use affected your relationships?
- Has your family been concerned about your use?
- Have relationships ended because of your use?
- Are you currently in a relationship?
- Does your partner use?
Legal trouble:
- Have you been arrested for substance-related charges?
- Have you received DUI charges?
- Are you currently on probation or parole?
- What charges are pending?
Financial consequences:
- Has substance use cost you money?
- Have you lost income due to use?
- Are you in financial trouble?
Health problems:
- Have you experienced any health problems from use?
- Have you overdosed?
- Have you had accidents while under the influence?
- Do you have hepatitis, HIV, or other substance-related health issues?
Why they ask: To understand the CONSEQUENCES of your use. This determines severity and treatment need.
What They’ll Ask About: Family Background
Family history:
- Does anyone in your family struggle with addiction?”
- Your parents? Grandparents? Siblings? Children?
- How did your family handle addiction issues?
- Did your parents use substances?
Childhood:
- What was your childhood like?
- Were there any traumatic events?
- Did you experience abuse or neglect?
- What was your home environment like?
Family support:
- Does your family support you?
- Do they want you to get help?
- Would they participate in treatment?
Why they ask: Family history is a genetic factor for addiction. Childhood trauma often contributes to substance use.
What They’ll Ask About: Mental Health
Current mental health:
- Do you struggle with depression?
- Do you have anxiety?
- Have you been diagnosed with any mental health conditions?
- Are you currently on psychiatric medications?
- Have you seen a therapist or counselor?
Trauma:
- Have you experienced any traumatic events?
- Have you been abused?
- Have you been in combat?
- Have you experienced loss or grief?
Stress:
- How do you handle stress?
- What stresses you the most?
- Do you use substances to cope with stress?
- What are your coping strategies?
Why they ask: Mental health issues often co-occur with addiction. Depression and anxiety commonly drive substance use.
What They’ll Ask About: Readiness for Change
Your motivation:
- Do you want to stop using?
- What’s motivating you to change?
- What would success look like for you?
- What barriers do you see to recovery?
- Have you tried treatment before?
- What worked? What didn’t?
Your support system:
- Who supports your recovery?
- Who do you spend time with?
- Are your friends supportive of change?
- Do you have access to treatment?
Your goals:
- What are your goals for the future?
- What do you want your life to look like?
- What’s important to you?
- What are you willing to do to change?
Why they ask: Understanding your readiness and motivation affects treatment recommendations. People committed to change respond better to treatment.
Important During Interview:
- Be honest: The evaluator has heard everything. They don’t judge. They’re trained to spot minimization, but it hurts YOU, not them.
- Take your time: If you need a moment, ask. There’s no timer.
- Clarify if confused: If you don’t understand a question, ask them to rephrase.
- Ask questions: You can ask why they’re asking something. This is a conversation, not an interrogation.
- Duration: 60-90 minutes
Stage 4: Standardized Assessment Tools (15-20 minutes)
After the interview, you’ll complete standardized questionnaires. These are scientifically validated screening tools that measure substance use.
SASSI (Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory)
What it is: A 93-item questionnaire measuring substance abuse likelihood
Sample questions:
- I have missed days of work because of my use
- People have criticized my substance use
- I sometimes use substances to escape my problems
- I feel anxious or irritable when I don’t use
How it works: You answer true/false or a rating scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree)
What it measures:
- Substance abuse probability
- Denial patterns
- Risk factors
- Treatment resistance
Duration: 10-15 minutes
Why courts like it: Objective, validated, hard to fool
MAST (Michigan Alcohol Screening Test)
What it is: A 25-item questionnaire specifically for alcohol use
Sample questions:
- Do you enjoy a drink now and then?
- Have you ever awakened the morning after some drinking with a blank memory of what you had done?
- Do you usually take a drink to relax when you’re tense?
- Has drinking created problems between you and a family member?
How it works: Yes/no questions, some weighted more heavily
What it measures:
- Alcohol use severity
- Dependence indicators
- Life consequences
- Treatment need
Duration: 5-10 minutes
Why courts use it: Gold standard for alcohol assessment
AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test)
What it is: A 10-item screening tool from the World Health Organization
Sample questions:
- How often do you have a drink containing alcohol?
- How many drinks do you have on a typical day?
- How often do you have 6 or more drinks on one occasion?
- Have you failed to do what was normally expected of you?
How it works: Multiple-choice scoring system
What it measures:
- Hazardous drinking patterns
- Dependence symptoms
- Harmful use indicators
Duration: 5 minutes
Why it’s used: WHO endorsed, cross-culturally valid
ASAM (American Society of Addiction Medicine Criteria)
What it is: Multi-dimensional assessment covering six areas:
- Acute intoxication/withdrawal potential
- Biomedical conditions/complications
- Emotional/behavioral conditions
- Readiness to change
- Relapse/continued use potential
- Recovery environment
- How it works: Evaluator rates each dimension based on the interview and other assessments
- What it measures: Overall complexity and needed level of care
- Duration: Completed by evaluator, not a separate questionnaire
- Why it matters: Determines proper treatment level (8-hour class vs. IOP vs. inpatient)
During Assessment Tools:
- Don’t overthink: Answer honestly and quickly. There are no trick questions.
- Ask for clarification: If the wording is confusing, ask the evaluator.
- Take breaks: If you need 5 minutes, ask. This is an important assessment.
- No time pressure: You’re not being timed or judged on speed.
- Duration: 15-20 minutes
Stage 5: Discussion of Findings (10-15 minutes)
After completing assessments, your evaluator discusses initial findings.
They’ll explain:
- What the questionnaires show
- Initial patterns they’re seeing
- What severity level might be indicated
- What treatment options might be appropriate
- Next steps in the process
- When you receive the written report
- How long might the treatment take
- What to expect going forward
You can ask:
- What does this mean?
- Why are you recommending this?
- Do you think I need treatment?
- How long will this take?
- Can I appeal if I disagree?
- Any other questions
Important: This is a discussion, not a final report. The written report comes 2-3 days later and is the official document.
How you’ll feel: Relief that it’s almost over, possible anxiety about results, curiosity about what comes next.
Duration: 10-15 minutes
The Physical Environment: What the Office is Like
Most evaluators’ offices are:
- Private and confidential: You won’t be overheard
- Professional but comfortable: Not scary or intimidating
- Quiet: Minimal distractions
- Clean and organized: Professional setting
- One-on-one: Just you and the evaluator (occasionally an intern for training, but noted upfront)
There’s usually:
- Comfortable chair to sit in
- Table for paperwork
- Some personal items (degrees, licenses, professional materials) showing credentials
- Private bathroom if needed
- Kleenex available (some people get emotional)
Why this matters: A comfortable environment helps you be honest.
Timeline of Your Entire Evaluation Appointment
- Arrival: 15 minutes early recommended
- Registration: 10 minutes
- Orientation: 5-10 minutes
- Clinical interview: 60-90 minutes
- Assessment tools: 15-20 minutes
- Discussion: 10-15 minutes
- Total: 2-2.5 hours
Plan for 2.5 hours to be safe: Some evaluations finish in 90 minutes, some take 2+ hours.
Don’t schedule anything immediately after: You’ll be mentally tired.
Payment During Appointment
Cost: $89-$165 typically
When you pay: Usually at the end of the appointment
Payment methods:
- Cash
- Credit card
- Debit card
- Check
- Payment plans (if requested)
Insurance:
- Ask if your insurance is accepted
- You may pay the copay amount
- Full billing handled by the provider
Receipt: Always ask for a receipt for your records
What You Should Bring
Definitely bring:
- Valid photo ID
- Court order (if you have one)
- Insurance card
Consider bringing:
- Notebook to take notes
- Water bottle (ask if you can bring)
- Phone on silent (not used during evaluation)
- List of medications (if not memorized)
- Gum or mints (to calm nerves – ask if okay)
Don’t bring:
- Substances of any kind
- Weapons
- Someone else (evaluations are confidential, must be one-on-one)
- Distractions
What NOT to Do During Your Evaluation
- Don’t lie: Evaluators spot it. Hurts your case.
- Don’t be defensive: If questioned about consequences, don’t get angry. The evaluator is gathering information.
- Don’t minimize: “Just social drinking” when you’re in for DUI is obvious minimization.
- Don’t rush through: You have time. Thorough answers help the evaluator help you.
- Don’t get emotional: Some people cry. That’s fine. Tissues are provided. It’s okay.
- Don’t demand specific results: “Tell me I don’t have an addiction” doesn’t work. The evaluator is objective.
What DOES Help During Your Evaluation
- Be honest: This is most important. Honest answers = accurate assessment = appropriate treatment.
- Show insight: I know I have a problem, and I want help shows maturity and readiness.
- Take responsibility: I made bad choices vs. Everyone else caused this shows accountability.
- Be respectful: Treat the evaluator professionally. They’re there to help.
- Ask questions: Show you care about understanding your situation.
- Show motivation: Express a genuine desire to change and get better
- Provide detail: Instead of I drink sometimes, say Usually 6-10 beers Friday and Saturday nights.
How Long Until You Get Results
Written report: 2-3 business days after appointment
Usually delivered:
- By email
- By phone
- In person (if you pick up)
- Mailed to you and the attorney
Court receives a copy: Simultaneously
What you do with the report:
- Review carefully
- Discuss with the attorney
- Understand your recommendations
- Enroll in recommended treatment
Frequently Asked Questions About the Evaluation Appointment
Q: Will I be drug tested?
A: Not always. Some evaluations include drug screening, some don’t. Ask when you schedule if unsure.
Q: Can I bring someone with me?
A: No. Evaluations are confidential and one-on-one. Your support person can wait in the lobby.
Q: What if I cry during the evaluation?
A: That’s completely normal. Many people do. The evaluator is experienced and prepared with tissues.
Q: Will the evaluator judge me?
A: No. Licensed evaluators are trained not to judge. They assess, not condemn.
Q: Can I refuse to answer a question?
A: Technically, yes. But this can affect your assessment. The court may order you to complete. Better to answer.
Q: How do I know if the evaluator is qualified?
A: Ask about credentials. Licensed Counselor (LC), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC), or licensed psychologist are appropriate.
Q: Can I bring notes about my use?
A: Yes. Having a timeline or details written down helps ensure accuracy.
Q: What if I forget details?
A: Tell the evaluator. They understand. They’ll ask follow-up questions to help you remember.
Q: Will my family find out what I said?
A: No. Evaluation is confidential. Only the court and the attorney receive the report (unless you authorize family).
Q: What if I think the evaluator is wrong?
A: You can discuss concerns and request clarification. Second opinion available if needed.
After Your Evaluation Appointment: What’s Next
You leave the office. You’ve done it. Now what?
Immediately after:
- You’ll feel relieved (mostly)
- You might feel anxious (waiting for results)
- You’ll probably be mentally tired (2+ hours of concentration)
Next 2-3 days:
- Your report is being written
- The evaluator is analyzing data
- You wait
Day 3:
- You receive your report
- You review findings
- You call your attorney (if you have one)
Week 2:
- You enroll in the recommended treatment
- You schedule the first session
- You submit proof of enrollment to the court
Related Resources (Learn More)
Understanding Your Evaluation Results: What to Expect After Your Alcohol and Drug Evaluation
Ready for Your Evaluation?
You now know more about what happens during your evaluation than most people. You’re prepared. You’re ready.
Remember:
- Be honest
- Be yourself
- Ask questions
- Take your time
- Trust the process
The evaluation is designed to help you, not hurt you. The more honest and engaged you are, the better the outcome.
Contact AACS Atlanta if you have questions before your appointment.
