Prepare for your first appointment
You do not need to have everything figured out. A few details can help the evaluation stay focused and give you more time for the concerns that matter most.
Include prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, supplements, doses, and how often you take them.
Bring medication trials, therapy history, hospitalizations, testing, prior diagnoses, and what helped or caused problems.
Write down when symptoms began, how often they occur, what makes them better or worse, and how they affect daily life.
Note major health conditions, allergies, sleep concerns, substance use when relevant, and significant family mental health history.
Have the name and location of your preferred pharmacy available. Prescriptions are based on clinical evaluation and are not guaranteed.
List what you hope to understand or improve so those priorities can be part of the treatment discussion.
Set up a successful telehealth visit
You must be physically located in Indiana, Minnesota, Washington, or Idaho during the appointment and in a setting appropriate for private clinical care.
Do not join while driving. Use headphones if they improve privacy and limit interruptions when possible.
Charge your device, test the camera and microphone, and use a reliable internet connection.
Have your medication list, pharmacy details, questions, and relevant records within reach.
Your identity, physical location, privacy, and emergency contact information may be confirmed at the start.
For children, teens, and caregivers
Evaluations for younger patients may draw on information from several settings. The goal is to understand the whole pattern—not simply one difficult day or one checklist score.
Share the timeline
Bring developmental, medical, behavioral, learning, and mental health history, including when concerns first appeared and how they have changed.
Describe different settings
Examples from home, school, activities, friendships, sleep, routines, and family life can help clarify patterns and impairment.
Gather useful documents
When available, school reports, testing, prior evaluations, medication history, therapy summaries, and custody or consent documents may be helpful.
Trusted mental health and recovery support
These national resources can help you locate crisis assistance, mental health information, and substance-use treatment support. External websites have their own privacy practices.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call, text, or chat for free, confidential support during mental health, emotional distress, suicide, or substance-use crises.
Visit 988 Lifeline →National Institute of Mental Health
Review plain-language information about mental health conditions, treatment, and how to find help.
Visit NIMH →SAMHSA FindTreatment.gov
Search for mental health and substance-use treatment services in the United States.
Visit FindTreatment.gov →