1. Prior to your appointment we ask that you download Microsoft Teams to your computer or mobile device and familiarize yourself with the software. IT Services has complied several training videos for students which may be helpful.
2. Please log-in using your McGill email address and password McGill student e-mail credentials at least 10 minutes before your scheduled appointment time to ensure sufficient time to troubleshoot any issues which may arise.

• Please be in a quiet, private space where you will not be distracted, interrupted, or overheard. Consider running a fan to create white noise outside the doorway and use headphones or earbuds to ensure privacy.
• Test your speakers and microphone before your appointment to make sure they are working.
• Facial expressions and other nonverbal cues help your clinician better understand you. Please use the biggest screen size available to you (i.e., a laptop rather than a phone). Make sure the device is stable and the camera is level with your eyes. Your light source should be in front of you, not behind you; if you are sitting near a window or lamp, for example, make sure it is not in the frame with you.
• Minimize distractions by closing unneeded applications and silencing notifications.
• Streaming services like Netflix and YouTube use a lot of bandwidth and can result in freezing or glitching video calls. Consider asking your family members or roommates not to use these during your video session unless you know your internet can support it.
• Please keep in mind as you meet with your mental health professional, eye contact may be difficult to establish and maintain via videoconference. To keep your personal information private, no one else should be in the room with you. Also, remember your therapist can see you! It is a good idea to dress the same way you would for an in-person appointment.

• The clinician will start a chat with you once they are ready. Please note that MS Teams is only to be used to communicate with your clinician during your scheduled appointment time. Any unsolicited messages outside of your appointment time will not be answered. To best serve your needs, all requests outside of your appointment time should be directed to the front-line services team by e-mail at hub.clinic [at] mcgill.ca or by phone at (514) 398-6017.
• Your initial consult will take approximately, but no longer than, 80 minutes (30 minutes for paperwork and 30-50 minutes for consultation).
• Please be on time for your appointment. If you are more than 15 minutes late, you will need to schedule another appointment. A no-show fee of $25 may also apply.
• Once connected, your mental health professional will ask you to present your McGill ID and ask for your current address & phone number in case of an emergency or technical difficulties. You’ll then be asked to complete some paperwork through a secure online portal, which your mental health professional will explain and review.
• At your first appointment, your clinician will work with you to help understand the challenges that you are facing, and together you will develop a personalized wellness plan best suited to your needs. If clinically appropriate, you may receive short-term therapy with the goal of helping you better cope with the challenges you are experiencing. Your personalized wellness plan could otherwise involve group therapy, peer support, a referral to a medical professional or community services, etc.

We want to hear about your experience. You may be asked to complete a brief survey and are invited to use our anonymous feedback form to share your experiences with the Hub Leadership Team.