Your First Appointment

Your first visit is an unhurried psychiatric evaluation — typically about 90 minutes — and the format is simple: you talk, your provider listens, and together you build a plan. Your provider asks about your history, current symptoms, what you've tried before, and what you hope will change, then explains what they're seeing in plain language. You'll leave with a clearer understanding of what's going on and a plan shaped collaboratively with you, which may include medication management, therapy, or both. There's no pressure to decide everything at once, and nothing is recommended before your provider understands your full picture.

A little preparation helps, but there's nothing you need to have solved in advance — that's what the evaluation is for. It's useful to bring a list of current medications and supplements, any past diagnoses or treatments, and the questions most on your mind. Many people find it helpful to jot down when their symptoms started, what makes them better or worse, and how they're affecting daily life, since those details are easy to forget in the moment. Come as you are; your provider will guide the conversation from there.

Bring a photo ID, your insurance card, and a list of current medications and supplements with doses if you know them — including anything you've tried in the past and how it worked. Any relevant records, test results, or notes from previous providers are helpful too, though not required to get started. It's also worth bringing a written list of your questions so nothing slips your mind during the visit. If you're joining by secure video instead, have your medication bottles within reach and find a private, quiet spot where you can talk freely.

The initial psychiatric evaluation is typically about 90 minutes — intentionally longer than a routine visit. That extra time exists so your provider can understand your full history and current situation without rushing, which leads to a more accurate picture and a better plan. Follow-up visits are usually shorter, since the foundation has already been laid. The goal of that first appointment is depth, not speed.

Not necessarily. The first visit is primarily about understanding your situation and building a plan together, and medication is only one possible part of that plan. If medication does make sense for you, your provider will explain the options, what to expect, and how it would be monitored before anything is decided. Some people leave with a prescription, others with a therapy-focused plan, and others with a plan to gather more information first. There's no pressure to decide everything at once, and your plan can be adjusted over time as you and your provider track progress.

Yes. You can have your first evaluation in person at our Tyler clinic on Loop 323 or by secure video anywhere in Texas, and both offer the same thorough, unhurried evaluation with the same provider. Video visits work well for many people, especially when travel, childcare, or distance would otherwise be a barrier to getting started. A few situations call for an in-person visit, and your provider will tell you clearly if that applies to you. Call (430) 288-5800 to choose whichever option works best for your life.

Yes. Everything you share during your evaluation and ongoing care is treated as private and protected under applicable health-privacy laws. Your provider can explain how your information is stored and handled if you have questions, and what — if anything — would ever be shared and with whom. Confidentiality is part of what makes an honest conversation possible, and we take it seriously. If privacy is a concern for you, raise it at your first visit and your provider will address it directly.