Basically my GP referred me for an emergency assessment with an outpatient Psych clinic after things had become unstable (hallucinations, almost daily self harm, severe depressive symptoms etc) - I was initially assessed by a Psych Nurse and Social Worker at home, and then set up for an appointment with a Psychiatric Registrar (Psychiatrist in training) at the clinic itself. It was determined at that point that, while I was obviously unwell, I wasn't quite unwell enough for the clinic to actually take me on as a patient. They dealt primarily with severely mentally ill clients in acute crisis, as a short term care unit, and I required longer term care/therapy. So that was that, at least until the following day when the registrar rang me back and said that one of the lead clinicians had reviewed my notes, and he was very interested in my case, and would I like to come in for an appointment and possibly have him take me on as a patient. I said 'Yes', and that's how I met my Pdoc who I've now been with for close to 5 years (and three clinic moves).