What a first visit is like

What I’ll ask about

A first visit is a chance for me to understand the whole picture, not just a list of symptoms. I’ll usually ask about:

• What brings you in. What’s been happening, how long it’s been going on, and what you hope will change.
• How it affects daily life. Sleep, energy, work or school, relationships, and the things you enjoy.
• Past treatment. Medications, therapy, or other care you’ve tried, and what helped or didn’t.
• Your physical health. Medical conditions and all current medications, because physical health and mental health affect each other.
• Alcohol, cannabis, and other substances. I ask without judgment. It’s part of seeing the whole picture.
• Family history. Mental health conditions among relatives, if you know of any.
• Safety. Asking about thoughts of suicide or self-harm is a standard part of a psychiatric evaluation. Asking doesn’t mean I assume anything.
• What matters to you. Your strengths, the people who support you, and your own goals for care.

You set the pace. If a question feels like too much right now, you can say so, and we can come back to it later.

What to bring

None of this has to be perfect. A rough list is far more useful than no list.

• Your current medications and doses. Include prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, and supplements.
• Past treatments and how they went. Medications you’ve tried (and doses, if you know them), about how long you took them, side effects, and what helped.
• Your questions. Write them down ahead of time. It’s easy to forget them in the moment.
• Anything you’ve tracked. Notes on mood, sleep, or symptoms, from a notebook or an app, if you keep them.

Your intake forms

Before a first appointment, new patients are usually asked to fill out intake forms. They can feel like homework, so here’s why they’re worth your time.

When your background is already on paper, your first appointment is freed up for what matters most: your goals, the history that matters, and your questions. Less time on dates and lists means more time talking.

Lakeview Behavioral Health’s intake forms are online at lakeviewbh.com/intake, so you can fill them out on your own time before your first visit.

A few tips

• Set aside 20 to 30 minutes. Somewhere quiet, when you won’t feel rushed.
• It’s fine to skip what you’re unsure of. We can go over anything together during the visit.
• Have your medication list nearby. It makes the medication questions much quicker.
• Share only what you’re comfortable sharing. You’re free to leave something out. We can talk about it later, or not at all.

If you can’t get to the forms, that’s okay. We’ll work with whatever you have. If you have questions about the forms, Lakeview can help at 218-327-2001.

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Video page & transcript

How we’ll decide together

Toward the end of a first visit, we’ll start putting the pieces together. Here’s how that usually goes:

1. I share what I’m seeing

   In plain language: how I understand what you’ve described, and what we know and don’t know yet.

2. We look at the options

   Including the trade-offs of each. Options may or may not include medication.

3. You tell me what matters to you

   Your priorities, worries, and past experiences help shape the plan.

4. We decide together

   I’ll give you a clear recommendation, and you’re welcome to ask questions or take time to think it over.

What happens next

• You leave with a plan you understand. If anything is unclear, ask. That’s part of the visit.
• We check in at follow-up visits. We look at what’s helping, what isn’t, and what to adjust. Scheduling is handled by Lakeview Behavioral Health.
• Speak up if something isn’t working. Side effects, no change, or new worries are all worth raising. Progress is rarely a straight line.
• If things get worse quickly, don’t wait for your next appointment. Call or text 988, or call 911 in an emergency.