What is a psychiatrist?
Psychiatrists diagnose, treat, and prevent mental, emotional, and behavioural disorders with the use of medication, neuromodulation, and psychotherapy.
Preparing for the appointment and the importance thereof.
Going for your first psychiatric appointment can feel greatly overwhelming. This can lead to you forgetting the questions you want to ask and remembering the important information you need to share.
Here are some important pointers.
Remember to jot down the current medications that you are taking, this is very important as some medications can interact with one another, a complete list of medications, in addition to psychiatric medications, a list of any and all psychiatric medications you might have tried in the past, including how long you took them for your medical concerns and any diagnoses family history of psychiatric issues, if there are any.
Be sure to communicate what you’ve been experiencing and also, if you feel comfortable, share the goals you’d like to achieve from being in treatment.
Being open and sharing your story takes a lot of strength and courage, which can feel emotionally exhausting, especially if you’ve suppressed your emotions for quite a long time. Any standard psychiatry office will have a box of tissues, so don’t hesitate to use them. After all, that’s what they’re there for.
Some of the questions asked about your history may bring up sensitive issues, such as the history of trauma or abuse. If you don’t feel comfortable or ready to share, please know that it’s OK to let the psychiatrist know that it’s a sensitive topic and that you’re not ready to discuss the issue in further detail.
Even though the psychiatrist leads the session, go in with the mentality that you’re meeting your psychiatrist to see if they’re the right fit for you as well. Keep in mind that the best predictor of successful treatment depends on the quality of the therapeutic relationship.
So, if the connection doesn’t evolve and you don’t feel your issues are being addressed, at that point you can search for another psychiatrist and get a second opinion.
My practice is officially open again.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me for an online counselling session. Let’s together create an environment where you can connect with yourself again, an environment that fosters and encourages authenticity. An environment where you can follow your gut and get to know what it looks like.
After doing an intake I might be able to help you with a few sessions using BWRT (Brainworking Recursive Therapy) read more about BWRT on another blog on my website: https://thewellsamaria.co.za/what-is-brainworking-recursive-therapy-or-bwrt/, or we will use another technique depending on your unique needs.
Contact Me & Book your online session!
