As with other areas in healthcare, the public mental health body is regulated by governing documents and regulations. As with clinical care ”Socialstyrelsen” has developed national guidelines for how the mental health care should be managed. One of these documents focuses on the treatment of anxiety and depression. From the experience of working as a psychotherapist who meets referred patients for psychological support, the aim is to investigate if and how the national guidelines affect physical patient contact as well as how they influence the overall experience. Whilst trying to answer these questions I refer to hermeneutic and phenomenological theories. I will also use clinical psychology and psychotherapy literature. Through describing a session with a patient in need of support för experiences of anxiety and depression I will show how the recommendations as part of the national guidelines might affect our contact.