Appointments
Preparing for a VA Mental Health Appointment
Medically reviewed · Updated 2026
VA mental health appointments are short, and the gap between a wasted one and a productive one usually comes down to what you did the night before. Here's the preparation that makes the minutes count.
Write these four things down before you go
- Your top concerns, in order. Two or three, maximum. If sleep is destroying you, say it first — not at minute eighteen.
- What's been hardest lately, concretely. "Nightmares four nights this week," "haven't left the house except work" beats "been rough."
- Every medication and supplement you take — names, doses, and what you actually take versus what's prescribed. Honesty here changes decisions.
- Your questions. Written down, because appointment-room amnesia is universal.
Questions worth asking
- "What's my diagnosis, in plain terms, and what's the plan for it?"
- "What are the therapy options here — CPT, PE, EMDR — and what's the wait?"
- "How long until we know this medication is working, and what's the next step if it doesn't?"
- "What should I do between appointments if things get worse?"
- "Am I eligible for anything beyond what we've tried — rTMS, ketamine, other referrals?"
During the appointment
Lead with your list. Be specific and honest — including about alcohol, cannabis, and skipped doses; clinicians can only treat the picture you show them. If something isn't working, say so plainly. And before you leave, confirm the plan out loud: what's changing, what you're watching for, and when you're being seen next.
Prep built into your pocket
Service & Recover's appointment prep tool does exactly this: check off topics, jot what's been hard, list medications, and write your questions — then share it with your provider through the iOS share sheet only when you choose. Free, on-device, no account.
Free companion app
Service & Recover puts these pathways, a personal safety plan, and appointment prep in your pocket — free, no account, nothing collected. Get it on the App Store →
Educational companion, not therapy or medical advice. This does not replace professional care and is not a crisis service. In immediate danger, call 911. Veterans Crisis Line: call 988 then press 1, or text 838255.