Congratulations on choosing treatment. 
This is an important step towards living a better, healthier, more satisfying life.
People choose treatment for a variety of reasons: some of my patients are experiencing symptoms like depression, anxiety, addiction, or sleep problems; Other patients seek help because they are noticing problems in their lives, for example, difficulty with romantic relationships, advancing in one’s profession, struggling with a particular stage in life (i.e., no longer being a student, becoming a parent, retirement, etc.), or difficulty coping with the death of a loved one. These are simply a few examples of the many reasons people seek treatment.
Regardless of your reason for treatment, the first step is to call my office. The receptionist will ask for some information including your name, telephone number, and the best way to reach you. During this initial call, we can also answer basic questions about fees, how insurance works etc. At this point, please let the receptionist know the best time for me to call you so that we can speak briefly on the phone. In this phone call, I will ask you about your reason for wanting treatment and if you know, what kind of treatment you are looking for. At this point, we can schedule an appointment.
You will need to reserve 60 minutes for your initial consultation. If you have contact information from previous therapists or psychiatrists or if you have any medical records, please bring those. If not, don’t worry. The consultation (and any treatment with me) is confidential, in accordance with all HIPAA laws and privacy practices. I will ask you questions about your symptoms, your psychiatric history, life history, and medical history. We’ll discuss my initial impressions and recommendations for treatment. Sometimes another session is needed to understand your full history and to determine the best course of treatment for you.
Among my recommendations, we may discuss psychotherapy as a course of action. There are several types of psychotherapy, and we will discuss which modality I feel is best suited to you. If I happen not to practice a modality that would benefit you, I will let you know that and offer suggestions regarding other options for you. I may also recommend medication, but only after careful assessment. If I recommend medication, these initial consultations would also include carefully explaining the risks and benefits of any medication I recommend for you.
My approach in general is to seek to understand you and your experience and help you clarify and align with you on your own goals. Whenever possible, I recommend psychotherapy over medications, but often, medications and psychotherapy work in conjunction. Not everyone wants psychotherapy or has time for it, preferring medications only. This is an approach I’m also open to consider.