Making your first appointment can be difficult, but once you have the courage, you’re on your way to feeling and living better.

Plan for one hour with your therapist, and bring your insurance card and the necessary paperwork to your first appointment.

What Happens Next

At the end of your first appointment, the therapist will often arrive at a tentative diagnosis for your problem. This is a necessary step, if for no other reason than in order to be paid by your insurance company (they won’t pay without a diagnosis). Diagnoses can often help guide a professional in helping you formulate a realistic treatment plan, and start a discussion about whether medication may be helpful or necessary. If the professional you see doesn’t share the diagnosis with you, you’re always welcome to ask — it’s your right as a patient to know it.