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What happens in your first psychiatry appointment
Before you ever walk into a psychiatry appointment, you should know exactly what to expect. Here's the structure of a first appointment with us: what we'll ask, what you'll leave with, and how long it takes.
Clinically reviewed by Consultant Psychiatry Team · FRANZCP
Almost everyone is nervous before a first psychiatry appointment. That is normal, and we have set the appointment up to take account of it. Here is what actually happens.
Before the appointment
Once you are booked in, you will receive:
- A confirmation email with the date, time, and a Google Maps link to the clinic.
- A short set of screening forms to complete online before the appointment.
- A request for any prior reports, letters, or recent pathology to be sent in.
You do not need to remember everything about your history before the appointment. We will work through it together.
Arrival
The clinic is at Ground Floor, 1 Chapel Street, Blackburn. There is street parking nearby and we are about a 7 minute walk from Blackburn train station.
When you arrive, you check in with reception. The waiting area is small and quiet. You can bring a support person (a partner, a parent, or a friend) and they can either sit with you in the waiting area or come into the consultation, whichever feels easier.
The conversation
The appointment runs 60 to 90 minutes. It is structured but unhurried. The clinician will ask about:
- What is happening now: what brought you in, how long it has been going on, what makes it better or worse.
- Your background: work, relationships, family, sleep, energy, daily routines.
- Your history: what you have tried before, what worked, what did not, any past diagnoses or treatments.
- Your medical history: current medications, physical health, anything relevant your GP has flagged.
- For ADHD specifically: your developmental history, school years, and any patterns going back as far as you can remember.
There are no trick questions. The clinician is building a picture, not testing you. If a question does not apply, just say so. If you cannot remember something, that is also fine. We work with what you can tell us.
What we are listening for
A diagnosis is more than ticking off symptoms. The clinician is listening for patterns over time, what fits together, and what does not. They are also looking for things that could be mistaken for one diagnosis but are actually something else, which is why a structured assessment matters.
What you leave with
At the end of the appointment:
- A clear sense of where things stand. That may be a diagnosis, a working hypothesis to investigate further, or a referral somewhere else.
- A treatment plan in writing, which may include medication, behavioural strategies, or psychology.
- A consultation letter back to your GP.
- A schedule for review, usually three to six months out for ongoing care, sometimes sooner during medication titration.
After the appointment
Most patients move into shared-care follow-up: your GP manages day-to-day prescribing and check-ins, and we review with you every three to six months. We stay reachable for clinical questions in between. Once things are stable, the review cadence can stretch out to once a year.
A note on telehealth
Your first appointment is preferably in person at our Melbourne clinic. Once we know you, follow-up reviews can be delivered by telehealth across Victoria, which makes ongoing care viable for regional patients and saves a half-day off work for everyone else.
Next step
If you are ready to book or you have questions about whether we are a fit, send a short enquiry . We call you back within one working day.