What to expect from your first psychiatrist visit

When your life is disrupted by difficult emotions, or if your mood swings are worrying your family or friends, it may be time to seek professional help. Psychiatrists are mental health providers with medical degrees (MDs or DOs) who evaluate the emotional and physical issues that contribute to your psychological problems. They can order or perform a full range of laboratory tests, prescribe medications when appropriate and work with you via talk therapy to help solve your problems.

Once you’ve booked an appointment with a psychiatrist, you may have questions about your first session. How do you prepare? What should you ask—and what should you be prepared to answer? Will you leave with an action plan? What if you’re uncomfortable with the doctor?

Kali Cyrus, MD, MPH, an Assistant Professor in the Yale Department of Psychiatry and Director of the Standardized Patient Program at Yale School of Medicine, answers the big questions about starting (or considering) psychiatric therapy.