Trackers and templates · Psychiatrist appointment sheet

How to prepare for a psychiatrist appointment

To prepare for a psychiatrist appointment, write down why you're going, when it started, what you take and what you want to ask, all on one page you can bring with you.

Free, with no account. Fill in my sheet opens a form. It saves in this browser as you type, and you download your PDF at the end.

How it works

  1. Fill in the sheet. Answer a few short questions in your own words. Choose your questions from a list or add your own.
  2. Download your PDF. You get one page. Your answers stay in this browser, and Safari can clear them after about 7 days without a visit, so keep the PDF.
  3. Bring it with you. Read from it or hand it over. Either is fine.
Example sheet
Main reasonOne page
Why I'm coming
Low mood since spring, sleeping badly
What it gets in the way of
Work, relationships
What I want to ask
What are my treatment options?

What to expect at a psychiatrist appointment

You'll likely talk about what brought you in, your symptoms and when they started, how they affect your daily life and what you take now. You may also talk about what you've tried before and your family's mental health history. You may be asked whether you've had thoughts of suicide, even at a primary care visit.1 You can answer openly.

You don't have to have the right words. Saying you're not sure how to describe it is a fine place to start.

What to tell your psychiatrist

NIMH suggests describing all your symptoms and telling your provider about all the medications you take, including over-the-counter drugs, herbal remedies, vitamins and supplements.1 Your sheet has room for:

  • the main reason for your appointment
  • when it started and what has changed since
  • what it's getting in the way of
  • what you take now, with doses, and how much alcohol or other substances you use
  • what you've tried before and what happened
  • mental health conditions in your family
  • any thoughts of death or suicide

Questions to ask your psychiatrist

Make a list of what you want to discuss and any questions you have.1 You can start with these:

  • What do you think is going on?
  • What are my treatment options?
  • Is therapy an option, along with or instead of medication?
  • How long until I may feel a difference?
  • What side effects should I watch for?
  • What should I do if I miss a dose?
  • How will we know it's working?
  • When is my next appointment, and who do I call before then?

Printable appointment sheet (PDF)

Prefer to write it by hand? The blank sheet fits on one page, and you don't need to give an email.

Bring someone with you

It can help to bring a friend or relative. They can support you, take notes and remember what you and your provider discussed.1

Track your dose and side effects in the withClaro app

If you're prescribed an antidepressant, the withClaro app tracks mood, energy, sleep and side effects each day next to your dose, so you have a clear record for your next visit. You can share a PDF report with your doctor.

FAQ

What should I bring to my first psychiatrist appointment?

Your list of questions and your medications, along with any logs you've kept. The sheet on this page puts them on one page.

Can I fill in the sheet online?

Yes. It saves in this browser as you type, and nothing is sent to us. Download your PDF when you're done.

If I keep a log on this site, can I use it?

Yes. If you've kept a log in this browser, your sheet notes how many entries you have and for which dates, so you can show them too.

Is the sheet free?

Yes, and it needs no email or account.

Sources

  1. National Institute of Mental Health. Tips for Talking With a Health Care Provider About Your Mental Health.

More free trackers and templates

If you're having thoughts of harming yourself, contact emergency services or a crisis line straight away. In the US, call or text 988. In the UK, call Samaritans on 116 123. Elsewhere, find a crisis line near you.

Written by the withClaro editorial team, fact-checked against primary sources. This sheet doesn't diagnose or treat any condition.