What Actually Happens at Your First Psychiatry Appointment in Sonoma
No clipboard interrogation. No 15-minute med-check rush. Here's what actually happens when you walk through our door — or log into a telepsychiatry visit — for the first time.
If you've been putting off booking an appointment because you don't know what to expect, this is for you.
Before Your Appointment
You'll fill out some basic intake paperwork — history, current symptoms, and what's bringing you in. This isn't a test. It's simply so your psychiatrist can start the conversation informed instead of starting from zero.
During the First Visit
Your first appointment with Dr. Croshaw or Dr. Eslami typically runs longer than a standard "med check" because the goal isn't to rush to a prescription. Expect to talk through:
What's been happening and how long it's been going on
Your history — medical, family, and mental health
What you've already tried (therapy, medication, lifestyle changes)
What matters to you in treatment — your goals, your concerns, your boundaries
This is a conversation, not an interrogation. You're allowed to ask questions too — about diagnosis, about medication options (or the option of no medication), about what the next few months might look like.
Depending on what comes out of that first conversation, your psychiatrist will recommend a plan that might include:
Medication management, if appropriate — explained clearly, including what to expect and possible side effects
A referral to or coordination with a therapist
A follow-up schedule that fits your needs, not a one-size-fits-all interval
You will never be pressured into a treatment you're not comfortable with. Our approach is collaborative — you're a partner in your own care, not a passive recipient of a prescription.
In-Person or Telepsychiatry — Your Choice
Located at 811-813 W. Napa St. in Sonoma, we offer in-person visits for those who prefer face-to-face care, and secure telepsychiatry appointments for patients across Sonoma County who need flexibility.
Insurance and Cost
We accept Aetna insurance, and offer direct-pay options for patients who prefer a simpler, insurance-free path.
Ready When You Are
Taking the first step is often the hardest part. If you've been putting this off because the unknown felt bigger than the problem itself, we hope this made it a little less unknown.
Sonoma Moon & Star Mental Health offers general psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, addiction medicine, and geriatric psychiatry to Sonoma County.
