What to Expect on Your First Visit

First, if you’ve taken that major step to set an appointment, you should feel proud. It takes a lot of courage to seek help.

During the first appointment with your psychiatrist, both of you will focus on what the most pressing problems are. You will provide the psychiatrist with details of your history and background, so that the treatment can be personalized to optimize results.

Final recommendations on how to proceed will be provided at the end of the session. It will be discussed whether further sessions are needed and if so, when.

The first appointment with your psychiatrist is about getting to know and understand your goals and problems. You can explain your concerns so that your psychiatrist can gain some insight into what your sessions will be focused on. You are also encouraged to interview the psychiatrist as well. We may not establish a treatment relationship at the first visit, but we will work together to determine if we are a good fit for each other. Overall, you need to be comfortable with your psychiatrist before working with them.

Most people may not understand why they feel unwell. Exploring this can be a good place for us to start. Because all treatment in psychology is individualized, our path to care will develop as we continue to meet. You should consider your treatment as a collaboration between yourself and your psychiatrist. Overall, you should leave your sessions with the tools to help you improve your functioning in life.

What Does a Psychiatrist Do?

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who focuses on the interplay of mental and physical health. We are trained in both psychology and medical treatment. While not everyone may require it, Psychiatrists can prescribe medication. When medication is recommended, it may not be needed for long-term care. Care can be for conditions of mental health, such as depression or anxiety. But it can also be centered around your relationships, work-related stress, substance abuse issues, and more. The main difference between therapy and psychiatry is that it is more multi-faceted and takes a more multi-disciplinary approach to individual treatment options.

Who Can We Treat?

Doctors Carmen Natali and George Tawfik treat adults from ages 18 to 75. Please find out if we are a provider of your insurance or if you have out-of-network benefits, a deductible, or coinsurance. We will provide you with a receipt with all the relevant information so you can submit it to insurance companies or other agencies. We provide both in-person and telemedicine sessions.