Emphasis on returning patients quickly to the community requires staff in acute psychiatric settings to maximize therapeutic efforts within limited time frames. To satisfy standards for practice, therapists must constantly apply time management techniques to their therapeutic endeavors. Despite patient stays as brief as 10 days, practitioners continue to evaluate, treat, and plan for the discharge of each patient referred to their service. This led to a reassessment and restructuring of the initial occupational therapy interview in one psychiatric setting. The objectives of the interview, with particular emphasis on therapy set, are reviewed. These objectives were incorporated into a three-part procedure of interview/therapy set. The forms that structure the procedure are discussed as adaptable tools for use in similar settings.