How long is a session with a psychiatrist?

Typically, a session lasts 1 hour, but it can vary depending on the severity of your symptoms. Read the full article to learn what you can expect during your sessions.

Like any other doctor’s visit, the first meeting involves getting to know you and your concerns. Psychiatrists, however, focus on your thought patterns, emotions and behaviours rather than your history alone. They will need to know if you have undergone any stressful or traumatic situations in the past.

Your first session typically lasts one hour and can vary depending on the therapist or your problem. Your psychiatrist will listen as you discuss your worries, symptoms, and family and personal history. Your initial sessions will last longer than your follow-up sessions, as your psychiatrist will analyse your life thoroughly before devising a treatment plan.

They will enquire about your physical and mental health, probing deeper if you have been diagnosed before by other mental health professionals. To get a complete understanding of your problems, your psychiatrist may prescribe tests to understand if the symptoms you are facing are connected to any other physical illnesses.

Based on all the information you provide your psychiatrist, they will create a treatment plan that includes medication, therapy or both. They can also suggest other coping mechanisms to help you feel better.

Your psychiatrist will break down what you can expect during your appointments and how it can be tweaked based on how you feel about the treatment plan. During your follow-up sessions, psychiatrists will review how you’re feeling since the previous session and if you have had any hiccups. They will ask about your appetite, sleep patterns, mood and behaviour.

Medication is another area that they will spend time talking to you about. If you’re feeling any side effects from taking the medication, you should mention that to your psychiatrist. Your psychiatrist will also need to understand if your dosage needs to be adjusted, so mention everything you remember to get the most out of your treatment.

Depending on the severity of your illness, the time taken by your psychiatrist can vary. When you visit a new psychiatrist, make sure to ask how long the session will last so that you can plan accordingly.

Medically reviewed by Dr Sunitha MBBS, DPM (NIMHANS), DNB

Dr Sunitha serves as the Chief Psychiatrist at Agan Health Trichy. She specialises in Adult Psychiatry, and her fields of interest include consultation liaison psychiatry and women's mental health. With over 15 years of experience in the field of mental healthcare, Dr Sunitha has been instrumental in positively transforming the lives of many in Tamil Nadu. She is also a consulting psychiatrist at some of the reputed mental health institutions in Tamil Nadu.