What to Expect During Your First Psychiatric Telehealth Visit

Written by Kris Haukoos, APRN, PMHNP-BC, CPNP. Last updated September 6, 2026

Taking the first step toward getting help for your mental health is a huge milestone. But right after you book that appointment, it’s completely normal for the anxiety to kick in. Opening up to someone new about personal struggles is intimidating, and trying a new telehealth system can add a whole extra layer of stress.

To help ease your mind, here is a clear guide on how to book your first psychiatric visit appointment, how to prepare, and what actually happens during your first evaluation.

Step 1: Scheduling Your First Psychiatric Visit Appointment

When you’re ready, click any of the Book Now buttons on our website to connect directly to our scheduling system, Charm.

• Select Your Appointment: Choose Initial Psychiatric Evaluation. You’ll be shown available dates and times. Most new patients can be scheduled within seven days.

• Pro Tip: All times listed in our scheduler are in Eastern Time, so keep that in mind when choosing a time that fits your schedule!

• Basic Details: You’ll be asked for your name, address, date of birth, and email. (Note: In the gender section, Charm’s options are unfortunately not as inclusive as we would like them to be, and we apologize for that limitation).

• Tell Us How We Can Help: In the Reason for Appointment box, feel free to be as brief or detailed as you’d like. Let us know if you have an existing diagnosis, current medications, or if a primary care provider or therapist referred you.

  
  

Step 2: Payment & Insurance

To reserve your appointment time, we require a credit card on file.

• Self-Pay Patients: Your card will be charged for the initial evaluation fee upon booking to secure your spot. This covers 100% of your initial visit and is fully refundable if you cancel at least 24 hours in advance. This is the only time you’ll pay prior to an appointment; future visits are billed at the time of service.

• Insurance Patients: If you plan to use insurance, let us know right away. We partner with a billing platform called Alma to verify coverage and process copays. Once you provide your insurance details, Alma will confirm your benefits and prompt you to keep a card on file for copays.

• Note: Insurance verification takes a few days. If it isn't finalized before your visit, we will temporarily bill the self-pay fee and refund you once your coverage is verified.

Step 3: Setting Up Your Portal & Pre-Visit Checklist

Once you schedule, you’ll receive an email invitation to set up your Charm Patient Portal. This is where you’ll fill out new patient paperwork, submit insurance info, upload previous health records, message us directly, and find your visit link.

A Few Days Before Your Visit:

1. Download or Update Zoom: Charm uses a secure, HIPAA-compliant version of Zoom.

2. Gather Your Vitals: You must have a recent weight, blood pressure, and pulse reading for your visit. Medications cannot be ordered without vital signs.

   • Pro Tip: Most pharmacies and grocery stores have free blood pressure kiosks and scales!

     
     

30 Minutes Before Your Visit: Log into your portal early to test your internet connection, test your camera/background, and ensure your phone or laptop is plugged in (you'll need enough battery for a 90-minute session).

Ground Rules for Your Session

For legal, safety, and privacy reasons, please make sure your visit meets the following criteria:

• Location: You must be physically located in the state where your provider is licensed at the time of the call. There are no exceptions to this law.

• Privacy: You must be in a private, quiet space where you are alone (not driving, walking through a store, or at your desk around coworkers).

• No Moving Vehicles: You cannot be in a moving car during your appointment—even as a passenger.

• Pharmacy: Have your preferred pharmacy’s name and street address ready.

Step 4: What Happens During the Visit?

When it’s time for your appointment, follow the Zoom link sent to your email or found in your patient portal. You’ll be placed in a virtual waiting room. We run on time, but if we are ever running more than 5 minutes behind, we’ll send a quick message in the portal.

Our first evaluation lasts 90 minutes. This gives us plenty of time to cover:

• What brought you in and what you hope to achieve.

• Your medical, psychiatric, and family history.

• Past medications you’ve tried, ensuring any new plan is safe for you.

By the end of the visit, we’ll discuss potential diagnoses and explore treatment options together. You’ll have time to ask questions, share what you feel comfortable with, and help shape a plan that fits your real life. Before we log off, we’ll schedule your follow-up visit so you leave with a clear plan forward.

Kris Haukoos is a Board Certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner providing virtual psychiatric evaluations and medication management. Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute formal medical advice or establish a provider-patient relationship.