English-Speaking Psychiatrist in Songpa, Seoul — What to Expect
Seeking mental health care in a second language adds a barrier that has nothing to do with your condition. This page explains what actually happens at a first visit in Korea, so the process is not the thing that stops you.
Living abroad can make it harder to reach care: unfamiliar systems, uncertainty about confidentiality, and the difficulty of describing internal experiences in a second language. House Mental Clinic in Songpa-gu offers consultation in English with a board-certified psychiatrist. This page outlines what to expect.
What happens at a first visit
A first appointment is not about receiving a diagnosis immediately. Its purpose is to understand what is happening and decide where to begin.
- Current state — when it started, sleep, appetite, concentration, mood
- Background — triggering events, previous episodes, family history
- Medical screening — thyroid problems, anaemia, and certain medications can produce psychiatric symptoms. Blood tests may be suggested.
- Direction — whether to begin medication, start with talking and lifestyle adjustment, or investigate further
You do not need to have everything articulated before you come. Organising it is part of the work.
Medical records and confidentiality in Korea
This is the most common concern among international patients.
- Medical records are protected under Korean medical law and are not released to third parties without your consent.
- Employers and schools cannot access your psychiatric records at will.
- If you have concerns related to visa status, insurance, or future applications, raise them at the first visit — they can be discussed openly and factored into how care is documented.
Delaying care because of these worries carries its own cost. Research on duration of untreated illness — for example a systematic review and meta-analysis (British Journal of Psychiatry, 2025) — indicates that longer delays before diagnosis and treatment are associated with less favourable outcomes.
What to prepare
- A list of current medications and supplements — photos of the packaging are ideal
- Notes on sleep: time to fall asleep, night wakings, total hours
- Changes in appetite and weight
- Any previous psychiatric treatment, including in your home country, and how you responded
- Whether there was ever a period of unusually elevated mood or reduced need for sleep — this changes the diagnostic direction
- Your alien registration card or ID, and insurance details if applicable
You may bring a partner or friend if that helps, or attend alone — whichever you prefer.
About treatment
Treatment is not automatically medication. Depending on severity and preference, it may begin with structured conversation and adjustments to sleep and activity. Where medication is appropriate, the goal and expected duration are agreed in advance, and any changes are made in discussion rather than by stopping abruptly.
Evidence is used to guide choices. For example, comparative evidence across antidepressants — such as the network meta-analysis of 21 antidepressants (Lancet, 2018) — informs why one agent may be preferred over another for a particular person, and a network meta-analysis of exercise for depression (BMJ, 2024) supports incorporating physical activity alongside other treatment.
Location and hours
House Mental Clinic is at 2F, Seong Building, 538 Ogeum-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul (Geoyeo-dong), close to Geoyeo Station Exit 5 on Line 5. It is roughly 10 minutes by car from Seoul International School.
Evening consultations are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with Saturday hours as well — useful if work makes daytime visits difficult. Consistency matters more than frequency in psychiatric care, so it helps to choose a time you can realistically keep.
The clinic director is a board-certified psychiatrist and a graduate of Seoul National University who earned an M.D. at Seoul National University Graduate School of Medicine. To arrange an English-language appointment, call 02-431-7588 or email house-psyclinic@naver.com.
참고문헌
- Duration of untreated or undiagnosed bipolar disorder and clinical characteristics and outcomes: systematic review and meta-analysis. — The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science (2025). PMID 40337852
- Comparative efficacy and acceptability of 21 antidepressant drugs for the acute treatment of adults with major depressive disorder: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. — Lancet (London, England) (2018). PMID 29477251
- Effect of exercise for depression: systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. — BMJ (Clinical research ed.) (2024). PMID 38355154
자주 묻는 질문
Can I be seen in English?
Yes. Consultations are available in English. You can arrange an appointment by phone at 02-431-7588 or by email at house-psyclinic@naver.com.
Will my employer or visa status be affected by seeing a psychiatrist?
Medical records in Korea are protected by law and are not released to third parties without your consent. Employers and schools cannot access them at will. If you have specific concerns about visa or insurance matters, raise them at the first visit so they can be addressed directly.
Do I need Korean national health insurance?
Coverage affects cost but not whether you can be seen. Bring your insurance details if you have them, and ask about expected costs when booking.
Will I be prescribed medication at the first visit?
Not necessarily. It depends on severity and your preference. Where medication is appropriate, the goal and expected duration are agreed in advance rather than left open-ended.
What if I struggle to describe how I feel in English or Korean?
That is common and expected. Bringing written notes helps, and describing physical experiences — sleep, appetite, energy, concentration — is often easier and just as informative as naming emotions.
