What to Expect at an Adult General Psychiatry Appointment

Whether you’re seeking support for your mental health for the first time or revisiting it after a while, attending a psychiatry appointment can feel like a big step — and it’s completely normal to feel unsure about what to expect.

At Matter of Health, we aim to make this process as smooth, informative, and supportive as possible. Here’s a step-by-step look at what happens — and how this session can help you understand what’s going on and what kind of support might help.

What is a general psychiatry appointment?

A general psychiatry appointment is a comprehensive, one-off session with a psychiatrist to explore your current mental health, past history, and any challenges you’re facing. This isn’t about putting a label on you — it’s about understanding your whole story.

People come to us for lots of reasons:

• Feeling low or anxious

• Difficulty concentrating or coping

• Unclear diagnosis or past conflicting opinions

• Looking for a safe space to discuss what's going on

If you’re wondering whether a general psychiatry appointment is the right starting point for you, we’ve written more about that here:
👉 How a General Psychiatry Assessment Can Help You Understand Your Mental Health

No matter the reason, our team approaches each appointment with curiosity, empathy, and care.

What happens — step by step

Step 1: Speak to our team at the enquiry stage
Before booking your psychiatry appointment, you’ll have a brief, informal chat with a member of our team. We’ll talk about what you’re struggling with and what kind of support you’re hoping for. This helps us understand your needs and match you with the right clinician. It’s also a great opportunity to ask questions and get a feel for how we work.

Step 2: Complete pre-assessment questionnaires
Once your appointment is confirmed, we’ll send you a few short forms to complete. These help us understand how things have been for you recently — emotionally, mentally, and physically — and give your psychiatrist helpful context before your psychiatry appointment.

Step 3: Your psychiatrist reviews everything in advance
Your psychiatrist will review your completed forms and team notes ahead of your psychiatry appointment, so they already have a sense of your background and current concerns. This helps you make the most of your time together.

Step 4: Attend your 60-minute consultation
This is a structured but gentle one-to-one session. You’ll talk through your mental health history, current challenges, and your goals for the psychiatry appointment.
There’s no pressure to share everything at once — we go at a pace that works for you, with compassion and curiosity.

Step 5: Understanding and possible diagnosis
If the psychiatrist feels a diagnosis is clinically appropriate, they’ll explain this clearly during your appointment. If not, they’ll still summarise their understanding and discuss what that means for your care.

Step 6: Explore support options
Whether a diagnosis is reached or not, your psychiatrist will guide you through next steps — which may include medication, therapy, further assessments (such as for ADHD or ASD), or other kinds of support.

We take a whole-health view of your care. Support options after your psychiatry appointment might include:

• Therapy tailored to your needs and preferences

• Nutritional therapy to support brain health and energy

• Dietetics for more clinical nutritional support

• Movement and fitness coaching to support your focus, mood, and resilience

Step 7: Receive your written summary and next steps
After your psychiatry appointment, you’ll receive a written report with a summary and clear recommendations. If you’d like help putting those into action, our team is here to support you with therapy, further psychiatry, or any of our wider services.

A first step, not a final decision

Think of your psychiatry appointment as the beginning of a personalised plan — not a final conclusion. It’s a chance to take stock of where you are, understand your needs, and map out a path that supports your mental health and overall wellbeing.

Questions? Nervous? That’s okay.

We understand that this might be your first time booking a psychiatry appointment, or that you might feel unsure about whether this is the right fit. You’re always welcome to reach out to us by email, phone, or WhatsApp with any questions — before or after your appointment.

We’re here to support you — and your story is safe with us.