How Do I Even Start With a Psychiatrist? What to Expect From the First Appointment

Deciding to see a psychiatrist is often harder than the appointment itself. People put it off for months, unsure what will happen, whether they will be judged, whether they will be rushed, or whether they will walk out with a prescription they did not understand. Knowing what a first appointment actually involves removes much of that uncertainty. A good first psychiatric appointment is a conversation. You are asked questions so the psychiatrist can understand you, and you should leave understanding your situation better than when you walked in.

At Empathy Therapy, the first appointment is a 75-minute conversation with Dr. Mark Chofla, a board-certified psychiatrist, from the privacy of your own home via telehealth.

Empathy Therapy is a telehealth psychiatry and psychotherapy practice built around empathic therapy, where genuine connection, careful listening, and integrated care are the foundation of every patient relationship. Dr. Mark Chofla, DO, is a board-certified psychiatrist who completed his undergraduate education at the University of California, Davis, his medical training at Midwestern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona, and his psychiatry residency and internship at the University of Southern California (USC). He has also served as a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California, Davis Medical Center and School of Medicine. Dr. Chofla provides psychiatric medication management and formal psychotherapy for adults, adolescents, and children, and executive life coaching for adults, across California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Alaska, New York, and Florida via telehealth. New patient intakes are 75 minutes. Follow-up appointments are 45 minutes. New patients are typically seen within days, not weeks. Evening appointments are available for patients in New York and Florida.

What Actually Happens in a First Appointment

A first psychiatric appointment is an evaluation. The goal is for the psychiatrist to understand you well enough to make good recommendations, which means most of the appointment is spent listening and asking questions.

At Empathy Therapy, that appointment is 75 minutes. Dr. Chofla asks about what brought you in, how long it has been going on, how it affects your daily life, and what you are hoping for. He asks about your history, including past treatment and how you responded to it, your medical background, your sleep, and your relationships and work, because all of it bears on an accurate picture. There is time for your questions too.

The length matters. A 75-minute appointment allows a full conversation rather than a rushed intake form. The time is used to understand you rather than move you through a checklist, which is the foundation of everything that follows.

One patient described that first appointment on Healthgrades:

"My first appointment made me feel treated with dignity and respect. It was obvious that Dr. Chofla was making a sincere effort to understand me as a person." — Patient on Healthgrades

What You Will Not Have to Worry About

Several common fears keep people from booking, and most of them do not match the reality of a good first appointment.

You will not be rushed. The appointment is built to be long enough for a real conversation.

You will not be handed a prescription without explanation. If medication is part of the recommendation, it is discussed, including why it is being suggested and what to expect. You are part of the decision.

You will not be judged. The purpose of the appointment is to understand your situation, not to evaluate your character.

You do not have to have everything figured out before you come. Many people book precisely because they want help understanding what they are experiencing. Arriving uncertain is normal and expected.

One patient described that experience on WebMD:

"He was kind, professional, and really listened. Even online, I felt supported and understood. He explained things clearly and made treatment easy to follow." — Patient on WebMD

How Telehealth Makes Starting Easier

For many people, the logistics of a first appointment are part of what delays it. A telehealth first appointment removes several of those barriers.

There is no commute and no waiting room. The appointment happens from wherever you are comfortable, which for a first visit about something personal can make a real difference. There is no front desk, no sitting in a shared space, no running into someone you know.

Scheduling is more flexible, and new patients at Empathy Therapy are typically seen within days rather than the weeks or months that in-person psychiatric waitlists often require. For someone who has finally decided to seek help, not having to wait months to be seen matters.

One patient described how telehealth removed the distance on Vitals:

"Originally saw Dr. Chofla when he was in Sacramento. I then saw him by video. Within minutes you forget there is technology and miles in between you. Dr. Chofla can do this, and for this, I am grateful." — Patient on Vitals

What Happens After the First Appointment

By the end of the first appointment, you and Dr. Chofla will have discussed what is going on and what the options are. Where there is enough clarity, a treatment plan takes shape in that first conversation. Where more information is useful, the next steps are laid out.

Because Dr. Chofla provides both medication management and therapy, the plan can include either or both without a referral to anyone else. Follow-up appointments are 45 minutes, long enough to continue the work rather than conduct a brief check-in. The same provider sees you at every visit.

One patient described that continuity on Vitals:

"Dr. Chofla is one of the best medical professionals I have been to. I have progressed under his care and expect to continue to do so. He sincerely cares about his patients' well-being." — Patient on Vitals

Private Pay, Superbills, and How Costs Work

Empathy Therapy is a private-pay, fee-for-service practice. Insurance is not accepted. Appointments are as long as the clinical situation requires, the same provider delivers both medication management and therapy, and the provider relationship stays consistent from the first appointment forward.

Patients receive a detailed superbill after each appointment, which can be submitted to insurance for potential out-of-network reimbursement. Many patients with PPO plans recover a portion of their costs this way. Dr. Chofla's office can provide guidance on that process. For current rates, patients are welcome to call 888-832-9635 or review the details available when booking online.

Dr. Chofla provides telehealth psychiatry and psychotherapy for patients across California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Alaska, New York, and Florida.

The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or call 911.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens in a first psychiatry appointment?

It is an evaluation built around conversation. At Empathy Therapy the first appointment is 75 minutes, during which Dr. Chofla learns what brought you in, your history, and what you are hoping for, with time for your questions.

Will I be prescribed medication at my first appointment?

Only if it is appropriate and after discussion. If medication is recommended, Dr. Chofla explains why and what to expect, and you are part of the decision. Medication is not automatic.

Do I need to know what is wrong before I book?

No. Many people book specifically because they want help understanding what they are experiencing. Arriving uncertain is normal.

How long are appointments?

New patient intakes are 75 minutes. Follow-up appointments are 45 minutes.

How quickly can I be seen?

New patients are typically seen within days, not weeks.

Does Empathy Therapy accept insurance?

No. Empathy Therapy is a private-pay, fee-for-service practice. Patients receive a superbill after each appointment for potential out-of-network reimbursement.

Which states does Empathy Therapy serve?

Empathy Therapy serves adults, adolescents, and children across California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Alaska, New York, and Florida via telehealth.

Are evening appointments available?

Evening appointments are available for patients in New York and Florida. The fully telehealth model means patients across all seven states can schedule without commuting.

How do I get started?

New patient appointments can be booked directly at www.empathytherapy.com. You can also review frequently asked questions at www.empathytherapy.com/faqs or call 888-832-9635 with any questions before booking.