5 Ways to Prepare for Your First Virtual Psychiatrist Appointment

Traditionally, psychiatric appointments are done in person. However, as technology improves and people become more mobile, many medical consultations have begun moving online. Telepsychiatry allows someone in the West Coast, for example, to find someone practicing psychiatry in Kentucky. Those with social anxiety or depression can also consult their psychiatrists from the comfort of their own homes.

If you are considering trying online psychiatric consultation, it is good to know how to prepare adequately for it. Feeling anxious about your first teleconsult is normal. Maybe you’ve never done this before, or you are trying a new therapist after having left an old one. Whatever your concerns are, preparing ahead of time can mitigate some of that anxiety and worry.

To ensure there are no technical disruptions, make sure you are familiar with the application that you and your therapist will use. Will it be via Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime? Whatever the application is, do a run-through with a tech savvy friend if you are not familiar with it.

Test the device you will use. Will it be a desktop computer, your laptop, or just your smartphone? Check that the sound and webcam work well. Become familiar with the location and features of the app’s different button options like the mute, audio, video, chat, question, recording buttons.

Someone knocking on your door or walking in during consultation can cause more anxiety. Find a quiet, private place where you cannot be disturbed. If that is not possible, inform the members of your home that you need some privacy for a certain time period. If necessary, pin a “do not disturb” sign on the door. 

To reduce your initial anxiety, find some quiet time to think about all the emotions you want to convey to your doctor before the appointment. Some find that an outline works very well in keeping the consultation on track. Visual people may do a mind map, which is a diagram for visually organizing information. Others will draw their feelings in a way that best resonates with them. Choose something that works best for you. 

A few hours before your consultation, take some time to quiet your mind. Read a book, listen to calming music, work on a hobby, doodle, or even do deep breathing exercises; anything that brings the calm back to what may be a busy day. Disconnect from social media as well, as this preps the mind and clears away unnecessary clutter that can disrupt the consultation.

Maintain a daily journal of your emotions and activities. Journaling can actually be therapeutic for one’s mental health. By writing these when the emotions are still raw and fresh, you also have a record of your triggers that also serves as inputs when your consultation time with your psychiatrist comes along.

Telepsychiatry is slowly growing mainstream as more people realize that they now have access to their psychiatrist without even having to leave home. These tips will go a long way in making sure your first teleconsult goes well and alleviates any anxiety you may initially have.