What to Expect From Your First Psychiatry Appointment

When you’re struggling with your mental health, stepping out of your comfort zone and trying something new can feel overwhelming. Those feelings may even include seeking help to improve your mental wellness. 

We assure you that you’re not alone in this Catch-22 situation — about 1 in 5 adults in the United States has a mental health issue. Of this number, only about half are seeking help.

Whether you’ve already made an appointment with Board Certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Julie Smith or a member of her team at Royal River Psychiatric Care in Yarmouth, Maine, or you’re considering doing so, here’s what you can expect during your first visit. 

Getting to know you

Mental health can be a tricky area because there’s not much that’s black-and-white — people’s experiences and symptoms can differ greatly.

So, when you first sit down with us, you can expect that there will be a good deal of exploration. This first meeting is a way for us to gather information about:

• Your current mental health
• Your medical history
• How is your mental health affecting your life
• What are your goals

Our mission is to listen closely to you so that we can meet you where you’re at with your mental health. From our standpoint, listening is critical because mental health illnesses rarely have a checklist of symptoms, but rather criteria that guide us.

For example, one person’s experience with anxiety can be very different from the next, and our job is to sift through your symptoms to reveal — and treat — the underlying problem.

Explanation of treatments

Once we have a better idea of what you’re up against, we get into some treatment options and how each works. The good news is that patients have access to a wide range of treatments.

At our practice, we offer a range of treatment modalities. These treatments include:

Individual psychotherapy

Individual psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, entails discussing concerns in a supportive, judgment-free environment with one of our licensed mental health professionals. The goal is to help you understand personal emotions, hidden triggers, and repetitive behavioral patterns. Also, to develop healthy coping skills and promote personal growth.

Medication Management

Many mental health issues require medication, often along with psychotherapy. Common among these are depression, bipolar disorder, and ADHD. Our mental health providers monitor the effectiveness of your medications and adjust dosages to maintain optimal outcomes.  

Lifestyle and wellness counseling

This modality entails a comprehensive evaluation and individualized, healthy lifestyle education that encompasses your physical, emotional, and mental health. 

Telepsychiatry

Virtual appointments are more convenient for many patients, and treatment is equally effective as in-person sessions. 

Research bears this out. An extensive study found that there was no significant difference in symptom improvement between telepsychiatry and face-to-face treatment for the most common disorders, including obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance misuse.

At your first visit, we’ll go over some of these treatments in greater depth and discuss which might benefit you.

For our part, we’re excited to see you, and we promise that your first visit will be a pleasant experience. 

If you have more questions about your first visit with us, we’re happy to shed some more light. To learn more, contact our office today.