What Happens at a First Psychiatry Appointment, and How to Prepare

A first visit is a conversation

If you have never seen a psychiatrist, it is normal to feel a little nervous. Most of a first appointment is simply talking. The psychiatrist wants to understand what you are going through, how it affects your daily life and what you hope will change.

There are no wrong answers, and you do not need to have everything figured out. Taking this step is a strong and ordinary thing to do, and a good first visit should leave you feeling heard.

What you may be asked about

Every psychiatrist works a little differently, but first visits tend to cover similar ground. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) encourages people to describe all their symptoms and to be specific about when they started, how severe they are and how often they happen, and to share major stressors or recent life changes.

• What brought you in now, and how long it has been going on.
• Your mood, sleep, energy, appetite, focus and worry.
• Past mental health care, including therapy and any medicines you have tried and how they went.
• Your physical health. NIMH notes that symptoms like a change in mood or trouble concentrating are sometimes due to a medical condition.
• Your family's mental health history, which NIMH says can help a provider understand your risk and look for early warning signs.
• Your daily life, relationships, work or school, and what support you have.
• Your safety, including any thoughts of harming yourself.

How to prepare

NIMH points out that appointments have limited time, so a little preparation goes a long way. These steps can help.

1. 1List your medicinesWrite down every medication you take, including over-the-counter drugs, herbal remedies, vitamins and supplements, as NIMH recommends. Note doses and any past medicines that helped or caused problems.
2. 2Write down your questionsMake a list of what you want to discuss so nothing slips your mind once the conversation starts.
3. 3Gather your historyHave the names of other providers, past diagnoses and your family's mental health history handy if you know them.
4. 4Consider bringing someoneNIMH notes a trusted friend or relative can offer support and help you take notes. Some people prefer to meet alone first and invite someone in when treatment is discussed.

Questions you might ask

NIMH encourages people to say so if a suggested treatment does not feel comfortable and to ask whether there are other options. For the latest details on any medicine you discuss, NIMH points to the FDA's Medication Guides and to MedlinePlus drug information.

• What do you think is going on, and what else could explain it?
• What are my options, with and without medication?
• If you suggest a medicine, why this one, and what side effects should I watch for?
• How will we know if the plan is working?
• How often will we meet, and how do I reach you between visits?
• Can you coordinate with my therapist or primary care provider?

How it ends, and what comes next

A first appointment may or may not end with a prescription. Sometimes a medicine is started; sometimes the psychiatrist suggests gathering more information, waiting, or another kind of support first. Either way, decisions are made with you.

NIMH explains that medicines affect people in different ways and it may take several tries to find the one that works best with the fewest side effects. That is why follow-up visits matter: they are where you share how things are going and decide together what, if anything, should change. NIMH also advises not stopping treatment without talking to your health care provider.

If your visit is online

NIMH notes that, depending on insurance and provider, virtual care can include an assessment, a diagnosis and treatment plan, and a prescription for medication. It also points out practical drawbacks to plan around: you need an internet connection and a device, and a visit may feel less private if people nearby can overhear.

Before an online visit, find a quiet room where you can talk freely, charge your device, test your camera and microphone, and keep your medicine list and questions within reach. If you are switching from another prescriber, see our page on switching psychiatrists.

How we can help

The psychiatrist on our team, a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, offers a psychiatric evaluation and ongoing medication management by secure video. You must be physically located in Pennsylvania during each visit. Our therapists see clients by secure video in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Arizona, Colorado or Florida and do not prescribe; outside Pennsylvania, medication questions go to your own prescriber.

Coverage depends on your plan, so ask us to verify your benefits first; our insurance and fees page lists the plans we work with. When you are ready, reach out through our booking page.

Video visits are not for emergencies. If you are in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911. Locascio Wellness does not provide emergency services.