Beginning Your Journey
This page provides some helpful information for new patients beginning their journey of care.
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Welcome! | Getting the Most Out of Your Consultation | FAQs
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Welcome!
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Establishing care with a psychiatrist can feel like a big step, and I'm honoured that you've chosen to book your initial consultation with me.
So, how are you feeling? It's completely normal to feel a mix of emotions, such as hope, relief, uncertainty, or even a little apprehension. My aim is to provide a space where you feel heard, understood, and supported, while working together in a structured, thoughtful way to help you move forward.
Whether you've seen a psychiatrist before or you're entirely new to this, you may be wondering what to expect. My website has plenty of information available, and I encourage you to look around, but most of it is geared towards patients who've already worked with me for a while.
My new patients page explains what to expect from your initial consultation and follow-up appointment schedule. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
This page is dedicated to you, my new patient, to provide some extra details that may help you at the beginning of your journey. Let's begin!​
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What do psychiatrists do?
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has completed a medical degree and then undertaken specialised training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health and behaviour. This usually requires 10 or more years of training, including university and specialist medical training. We continue to seek further training and education throughout our careers to ensure our knowledge is up-to-date and based on the latest evidence.
As a psychiatrist, my training allows me to understand both physical and mental health symptoms and conditions, and I'm uniquely placed to understand the ways in which the mind and body intersect.
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Psychiatrists rely on their clinical skills to make sense of a person's presentation using a diagnostic formulation. This involves understanding you as a whole person - your mind, body, past, present and the world in which you live.
To understand all of the above, I'll ask (many) questions about your symptoms, your daily life, your past experiences, your family and other relationships, and your health. I usually organise blood tests to screen for possible medical causes of your symptoms, and may request other investigations such as brain MRI, EEG (to assess brain waves), ECG (to assess your heart's electrical rhythm), sleep studies or expert opinion from another medical specialist.
How to get the most out of your consultation
Preparing for your initial consultation
Before scheduling your initial consultation, you provided me with detailed information via my intake forms. Thank you for taking the time to complete these, as I read them in detail to ensure I'm prepared for your first appointment. You may have already sensed that I like to be thorough, based on my intake process and the questions I've asked in my forms, and this will continue during your initial consultation.
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Writing notes beforehand
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Sometimes people feel nervous before their initial consultation. This is understandable, and it's perfectly normal. Sometimes when people are nervous, their minds go blank. The more they try to remember something, the further out of reach it becomes.
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If you tend to forget important information when you are nervous, I recommend writing some notes to guide you. I may ask you about the following:
- Current symptoms and their impact on your daily life (I tend to ask for examples)
- Medical conditions, physical symptoms, and allergies
- Current and previous treatments
- Family history of physical and mental health conditions
- Substance use history
- Developmental history
- History of any major/difficult/traumatic life events
- Your goals and preferences
- Anything important you think I should know
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Your initial consultation day
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In the morning
On the morning of your appointment, I encourage you to start your day gently. Focus on taking care of your body - eat, drink, move, and get some rest. It helps to avoid doing anything stressful so your brain's battery is well-charged for our discussion.
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Prepare your technology
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Technology is wonderful, but technical errors can happen. Take some time to set up your device, make sure it is fully charged, and you have a good internet connection. Run the pre-call test via my telehealth waiting room to make sure your devices are working.
Prepare your environment
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Think about where you'll sit - ideally, this would be somewhere private, well-lit, comfortable and quiet. Your car is fine if this is your preference!
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Comfort objects
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Feel free to have comfort items with you. What we discuss may be upsetting, and it helps to have something you know will keep you grounded and settled. Examples include weighted blankets, ice cubes/ice pack, calming scents, food/drink, fidget objects, or a stuffed animal.
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Just before your call begins
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Just before you join the telehealth waiting room, it may help to turn your phone on silent. If you use your phone for our video call, consider turning on do-not-disturb mode, as incoming calls can interrupt our connection, and we may need to hang up and start a new video call.
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During your call
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There is no right or wrong way to speak or behave. I encourage you to be yourself! I am totally ok with you using (most) swear words, and I learn a lot from anything we discuss. We will get off track at times; that's normal (and, in my opinion, enjoyable)! I prefer a natural flow to the conversation rather than an overly structured, formal one.
If I sense we'll run out of time before we cover everything, I'll let you know so we can decide what to do. We may decide to become more targeted in our conversation to cover the important details, but we may need to address the remaining details at your second appointment.
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Most people feel quite nervous at the beginning of the call, but they tend to relax as the session progresses. If you need support to feel settled, I'll guide you through this.
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After your call
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You may be surprised by how tired you feel after our call ends. It takes a lot of energy to talk for that long, and use all of the most energy-draining brain functions to give all the information I ask from you. It may help to have an easy afternoon.
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Most new patients also report feeling relieved, understood, and hopeful after their first appointment. So, I hope you'll trust that the fatigue will be worth it!
Frequently asked questions
Should I have someone with me during my appointment?
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This is entirely your choice! If you would feel more comfortable having a support person with you during your appointment, you are more than welcome to do so. It can be helpful for me to hear another person's perspective, but it is not compulsory for you to be accompanied by someone.
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In my experience, most people choose to attend their appointments alone. Some do prefer to have a parent, spouse or other support person with them, but this is less common. Involving a support person in the assessment does take extra time, and in some cases, this may extend your initial assessment over two (or more) appointments.
If you decide to have someone with you, I encourage you to consider whether you’d like your support person to hear all aspects of your past history, or if you'd prefer they leave the room for part of the consultation.
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What should I do while I wait for my appointment?
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Please see your GP and/or psychologist regularly while you await your appointment, as they can monitor your condition and advise on the best plan in the interim. It may help to jot down notes when you think of something you'd like to mention to me, and have those notes with you at your appointment. ​
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Will I be prescribed medication?
Medication is one of many possible tools. If I feel medication may be helpful, we will discuss the options, and I'll ask your opinion before we make a decision together. You will never be forced or pressured to take medication that you don't want to take.
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Do I really need an appointment if I just need a script?
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In certain situations, I can issue prescriptions between appointments; however, this option will only be available once your medication plan has stabilised. Sometimes, patients report that they are doing well and feel a consultation isn't necessary for their stable medications to be prescribed. However, I must adhere to professional and legal obligations set by the Medical Board when providing prescriptions to ensure safe care.
If you have maintained stability for a significant period without any required changes to your medication, it may be possible for your GP to take over your care or to participate in a shared care arrangement. If either of these options is appropriate for your situation, I will recommend it.
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How often will I need appointments?
This varies from person to person. In the beginning, appointments are usually scheduled more frequently. As things start to stabilise, they tend to be spaced further apart. At each appointment, I will discuss your preferences with you and provide my recommendations before we decide together on the timing of your next appointment.
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What if I don't know what to say?
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This is common, and it's completely okay. I'll ask questions to guide you, and if any don't make sense, I'll rephrase them. People often comment that they aren't sure whether they made sense or explained something well enough, but it is rarely the case. My job is to make sense of things that don't make sense to you yet.
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What if I become distressed during an appointment?
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It's completely normal to feel distressed when discussing sensitive topics with a psychiatrist. You are not expected to "hold it together" or remain calm during these conversations. If I notice that a topic is too painful for you, I may suggest we revisit it later—this could be months or even years down the line. I want to emphasise that you should never feel pressured to answer any questions, and you are in control of our discussions.
Sometimes, we can establish "no-go" topics, which means we agree to avoid certain discussions that might be triggering for you. If you ever need to take a moment to pause and regulate your emotions during our appointment, I will guide you through that process. If needed, we can add structured breaks during sessions, where we both pause, turn off the camera and microphone, and have a few minutes to reset before we join the call again.
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What is appropriate to say, do or expect of you?
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Sometimes, people want to understand the rules so they don't accidentally do anything wrong. While I wouldn't describe myself as strict or inflexible, I do have a few important guidelines to share:
1. If you need support or advice, please schedule an appointment. This is important because my professional obligations prevent me from offering medical advice outside a formal consultation.
2. I do not tolerate abusive, threatening, or inappropriate behaviour toward my administrative team or myself.
3. In the past, I have discharged patients for reasons such as abusive behaviour, consistently cancelling appointments, failing to pay fees after multiple reminders, misusing prescribed medications, and ignoring safety recommendations that I consider essential.
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Are you being kind to me only because I am paying you?
I understand where you're coming from, and the answer is no. It's often those who have experienced attachment trauma that question the authenticity of care and support, feeling that kindness must come with a price tag. At times, I feel the urge to prove I'm different, but my job is to resist that urge. I trust that over time, you will feel the authenticity within our therapeutic relationship.
I want you to know that my approach is grounded in warmth, care, and gentleness. I strive to treat all individuals, as well as animals, with kindness, and that has nothing to do with money. My fees cover my time and expertise and help cover the costs of running my practice. However, my empathy and compassion for you are given freely and are never contingent on money.
Last reviewed: March 2026