Getting Ready to Meet Professionals

Before you continue

The content on this website is under development. This site is not medical advice. Information is curated by volunteer subject-matter experts. Some content has been created with AI assistance and should not be taken as fact. Always consult a qualified professional.

The What Matters Most Psychosocial Resource Platform provides general mental health information for educational purposes. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this platform.

If you are in crisis or think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number immediately or go to the nearest emergency department.

This content is reviewed by Dedicated Page Custodians and the Library Editorial Advisory Board. However, mental health information evolves rapidly, and we cannot guarantee that all content reflects the most current research.

I have read and accept the Disclaimer.

Doctors provide less time per patient because the number of patients is greater than professionals can manage. Naturally, one needs to use available time wisely. One can do so by maintaining a record.
- Show the record maintained in tables (intensity, frequency, and duration) to the doctor.
- Instead of narrating the whole story of all incidents, narrate one showing a sample of the patient’s symptoms/behavior. Avoid giving many examples.
- Note down important points you want to convey to the doctor during the visit and provide them in written form. The doctor, by their experience, will pick up the clues. One can highlight important ones by speaking about them.