A psychiatrist is a qualified medical doctor with additional specialist training and qualifications in mental health. They are skilled in recognising and diagnosing specific mental health difficulties and disorders based on the symptoms you experience.  A psychiatrist will review your symptoms, your medical and developmental history and your physical health, and consider whether any medication may be beneficial for you, either in the short or the long term. They will be able to assess whether any medication is contra-indicated or is likely to interact with other medications you are taking. At Edinburgh Psychiatry we will consult, diagnose, and prescribe according to the scientific evidence base for effective treatments.

Speak to your GP initially if you are finding it hard to understand your difficulties and what support you might need. If you want to access support from Edinburgh Psychiatry, fill in our online self-referral form with as many details as you can, and we will review it to see if we can offer you an initial appointment to discuss things further.

All of our sessions are completely confidential. Information will not be given to family members, universities, friends, or your GP, without your explicit consent. However, if we judge from information you provide to us that you or someone else is at immediate risk of coming to harm, we have a legal duty of care to break confidentiality in order to ensure your safety or the safety of others. Any personal data is stored on fully GDPR compliant electronic software accessible only by Edinburgh Psychiatry. Please refer to our terms and conditions for full details around confidentiality and GDPR issues.

Psychological intervention can range from a few sessions to a few years, depending on an individual’s needs and preferences. A standard assessment can take approximately 2 to 3 sessions.