Booking your first private psychiatry appointment feels like a big step. You’re probably busy wondering what you’ll say to the psychiatrist, what it’ll feel like discussing personal experiences, and maybe even whether you’ll leave with a diagnosis or prescription. Knowing what to expect can help you feel prepared – so let’s go through it!
An initial consultation gives you and your psychiatrist an opportunity to explore the issue, including how it affects your life and what support might help. Any treatment recommendation afterwards will always take into account your experiences, physical health, previous treatment and preferences.
At Surrey Psychiatry (part of Dr Jo Gee Psychological Therapies in Guildford, Surrey), we offer psychiatric care alongside our gold-standard psychological therapies. This guide explains the general assessment process, how medication decisions are approached and the practical questions you need to ask before booking.
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specialises in mental health. They assess difficulties, consider possible diagnoses and recommend treatment, which may include medication, psychological therapy or other support.
A psychiatrist’s assessment considers a wide range of different factors: your circumstances, your physical health, your relationships and your past experiences. You don’t need to know which diagnosis might apply before seeking help, but explaining what you’ve been experiencing is a useful starting point.
You don’t need to prepare a perfect account of your life. However, a few notes can help if you’re worried about forgetting something.
Before your appointment with a psychiatrist, consider writing down:
Bring all relevant clinical letters or reports if you have them, and ask the clinic whether anything needs to be sent beforehand.
It’s also helpful if you can identify what you want to change, whether it’s being able to manage everyday tasks more easily, understand recurring difficulties or just review a treatment that hasn’t helped enough.
If you would like someone you trust to accompany you, ask about this when booking.
Initial consultations usually involve a detailed conversation about your current difficulties and relevant history. Your psychiatrist will ask about your thoughts and feelings, physical health and any significant experiences in your life. The answers to these questions will help your psychiatrist to understand your situation and consider the right support.
Some of these topics might feel too personal or difficult to discuss – and that’s okay. They’re here to help and guide you through the process. Just let your psychiatrist know if you need a question explained or a moment to gather your thoughts or find the right words. Your psychiatrist might ask about topics like alcohol or drug use, self-harm or thoughts of suicide. Your answers won’t get you in any trouble, but it’s important to be honest since your responses will help your psychiatrist assess your safety and treatment needs.
We would also recommend confirming how long the consultation will last before booking and whether it will take place online or in person. Appointment arrangements can vary depending on the clinician and type of assessment.
It’s possible that a diagnosis might be discussed at the first consultation, but further information or assessment is often needed. Psychiatrists usually need previous records, additional appointments or physical health investigations before reaching a clear conclusion.
That doesn’t mean you can’t have a few answers after the first consultation though. Feel free to ask your psychiatrist what they think is happening and what still needs exploring. If a diagnosis is suggested, you’ll have opportunities to discuss what it means and what the treatment options are.
Medication is only one possible treatment option. Whether it’s appropriate depends on the assessment, evidence, any potential risks and your circumstances.
If medication is recommended, your psychiatrist will explain its purpose and how it compares with other appropriate options. If you have any concerns, don’t stay silent – your opinion matters, especially if you’re concerned about side effects or feel uncertain about taking medication.
NICE recommends involving patients in decisions about medicines and discussing the benefits, risks and available choices.
Here are some useful questions you could ask:
By all means, ask for an explanation in plain, simple language or for written information to read afterwards. You don’t have to memorise everything they say in your appointment!
All discussions about medication should connect the clinical recommendation with what matters to you. For example, if you’re concerned about sleep, concentration, daytime tiredness or how treatment could affect your work, then tell your psychiatrist about these priorities so they can consider them when explaining the options.
Shared decision making is an important part of the treatment process. It involves you and your psychiatrist discussing the possible benefits, harms and consequences of any treatment, including the option of making no change where appropriate. It also means being clear about uncertainty: a clinician cannot guarantee exactly how you will respond to a medication.
Before starting any medication, ask how you will know whether the treatment is helping and what to do if problems arise.
Psychiatric treatment is more than just medication! Depending on your needs, your psychiatrist might consider treatments that involve medication, psychological therapy or a combination of approaches.
Therapy provides a space to explore experiences, relationships and patterns of thinking or behaviour, as well as an opportunity to learn and develop strategies to manage any difficulties you’re having.
Dr Jo Gee Psychological Therapies offers both psychiatry and psychotherapy under one roof to make your mental health journey as easy as possible. If you already have a therapist, ask whether communication between professionals would be helpful and how information would be shared with your agreement.
Before your appointment ends, make sure you ask for a clear explanation of what comes next.
If medication is prescribed, clarify who will provide prescriptions, when reviews will happen, what monitoring is needed and who you should contact about any side effects or concerns. Reviews are an opportunity for you to discuss how your medication has been going and whether the treatment plan needs adjusting. NICE advises reviewing medicines regularly and considering experiences and preferences.
Do not change a dose or stop prescribed medication without advice from your prescriber.
Ask your psychiatrist if a written report will be included and how they will communicate any recommendations to your GP. If they mention ongoing prescriptions from the NHS, clarify the arrangements as your GP’s agreement should not be assumed.
If you’re choosing a private psychiatrist in Guildford or elsewhere in Surrey, it’s important to ask about the full cost of care. Check the initial consultation fee, as well as any follow-up fees, prescription fees, medication costs and any additional charges for reports or investigations.
If you plan on using private medical insurance, confirm with both the clinic and your insurer that the individual psychiatrist and appointment are covered. Ask also whether you need a referral or authorisation before booking.
It’s important to understand these arrangements beforehand to ensure there are no interruptions to your consultation or any ongoing treatment.
You do not need to have all the answers when you meet with your psychiatrist. Your first consultation is an opportunity to discuss your difficulties, ask any questions you have and understand the support that’s available.
If you’re considering private psychiatric care in Surrey, contact Surrey Psychiatry (part of Dr Jo Gee Psychological Therapies) to discuss your enquiry. Our team can explain the booking process, current fees and available clinicians so you can prepare for your first appointment.