By the Northline care team · Reading time: 4 min

Before you arrive

Once you book, we’ll send a short intake form to fill out from your phone or computer. It asks about your medical history, current medications, allergies, what’s bringing you in, and how to reach you. It takes about 10–15 minutes. You can fill it out in pieces — nothing has to be perfect or complete.

If you’re using insurance, we’ll have already verified your benefits and let you know your expected copay or coinsurance in writing. There are no surprise costs at the front desk.

When you walk in (or log on)

For in-person visits, you’ll arrive at our East Lyme office. The waiting area is small and quiet — not a busy clinic floor. You won’t sit next to ten other patients. The front desk will check you in and confirm any last details. Wait time is usually under 5 minutes.

For video visits, you’ll get a secure link in your email an hour before. One click joins. No app to download. Use a phone, tablet, or laptop — whatever’s most comfortable. We’ll send a backup phone number in case the connection drops.

The visit itself — 60 minutes, in three rough parts

Minutes 0–15: What’s bringing you in. Your clinician will ask you to describe what’s going on in your own words. There’s no script. We’re listening for the shape of what you’re dealing with — how long it’s been going on, what makes it better or worse, how it’s affecting your daily life.

Minutes 15–40: History. Medical history. Family mental health history. Past mental health care, what worked and what didn’t. Medications you’ve tried. Sleep, alcohol, cannabis, caffeine, exercise. Relationships, work, recent stressors. Some of this will feel relevant; some won’t. We ask anyway because the patterns matter.

Minutes 40–60: What we’re noticing and what’s next. The clinician shares what they’re hearing — what they think is going on diagnostically and what would help. You’ll have time to ask questions. If we think medication is appropriate, we talk through specific options — what they do, side effects to watch for, alternatives. You don’t have to decide on the spot. Many patients leave with a plan that doesn’t involve medication at all, or with a plan to start something but only after thinking about it for a few days.

What we won’t do

We won’t push medication on you. We won’t make you feel rushed. We won’t lecture you about lifestyle changes. We won’t tell you that you “have” to do anything. The goal of a first visit is for you to leave with clarity about what’s going on and a sense of trust in the person you’re working with.

What’s a good first visit?

You should leave the first appointment feeling that your clinician understood your situation, that the plan they suggested makes sense to you, and that you’d be comfortable being honest with them next time. If any of those feel off, tell us. We’d rather adjust than have you stop coming.

After the visit

Within a day or two, you’ll get a summary in the patient portal — what was discussed, the plan you and your clinician agreed on, and any prescriptions sent to your pharmacy. If you have questions between visits, you can message your clinician through the portal — we usually respond within one business day. For urgent issues, you can call.

A note on bringing someone

If you’d like to bring a partner, parent, or close friend to your first visit (or have them join the video call for a portion of it), that’s welcome. Some people find it helpful, especially if memory or symptom-tracking has been hard. Others prefer to come alone. Both are fine.