Why start with an evaluation
Many people in the mountains come to us after months or years of guessing. Is it anxiety or ADHD? Depression or burnout? Grief after the storm, or something that will not lift on its own? Online quizzes and well-meaning friends can only go so far. A psychiatric evaluation is a structured conversation with a licensed psychiatric provider that sorts symptoms into a clear diagnosis and a plan.
It is also a good fit if you already have a diagnosis but your treatment is not working, if you want a second opinion, or if you are moving your care from a primary care doctor to a specialist.
What we cover
Your provider will ask about:
- What brought you in and how long it has been going on
- Mood, sleep, appetite, energy, focus, and stress
- Past diagnoses, medicines, and what helped or did not
- Medical conditions, current prescriptions, and supplements
- Alcohol, cannabis, nicotine, and caffeine
- Family history of mental health conditions
- Work, school, relationships, and the people who support you
We may use short, validated questionnaires, such as the PHQ-9 for depression or the GAD-7 for anxiety, so we can measure change over time.
A whole-person approach
Asheville values care that sees the whole person, and so do we. Sleep, chronic pain, hormones, thyroid health, and recent losses all affect how the mind works. When a medical cause could be part of the picture, your provider may recommend lab work or coordinate with your primary care doctor. The goal is an accurate answer, not a quick label.
Trauma and PTSD evaluation
Hurricane Helene changed life across western North Carolina in 2024. Floods, evacuations, and loss can leave lasting effects: nightmares, jumpiness, avoiding reminders, or feeling numb and disconnected. Other people carry older trauma from accidents, abuse, or combat. Part of a full evaluation is checking for post-traumatic stress disorder, often with a standard checklist called the PCL-5. Naming PTSD correctly matters, because it changes which medicines are most helpful and what to watch for.
Bipolar disorder assessment
Some people who come in for depression have also had stretches of unusually high energy: little need for sleep, racing ideas, big spending, or risky choices. That pattern can point to bipolar disorder, which is treated differently from depression. Your provider will ask about these periods carefully, sometimes with a tool called the Mood Disorder Questionnaire, before recommending an antidepressant. Getting this right protects you from treatments that can make bipolar disorder worse.
What you leave with
By the end of your evaluation, you will have your provider's working diagnosis in plain language, the reasons behind it, and a written plan. That plan may include medication, lab work, a GeneSight test if past medicines failed, and a follow-up schedule for medication management. If something needs more information, such as old records, we will tell you exactly what and why.
For creatives and night owls
Many of our patients are musicians, artists, chefs, and brewers with schedules that do not match a nine-to-five world. Tell us your real rhythm. A good evaluation accounts for when you sleep, work, and perform, and the plan should fit that life.
How long it takes and how to prepare
Plan on a longer first visit than a typical check-up, since your provider needs time to hear your full story. Before you come, jot down the medicines you have tried, roughly when, and what happened. If a partner, parent, or close friend has noticed changes in you, their observations can help, and they are welcome to join part of the visit with your permission.
After the evaluation
Most people return within a few weeks so your provider can see how the first steps are going. If you start a medicine, that follow-up checks side effects and early progress. If your provider asked for records or labs, the next visit is where everything comes together into a clearer plan.
Getting started
Our office is at 16 Biltmore Ave in downtown Asheville. We see adults and teens 15 and older from Montford, West Asheville, Kenilworth, and across the mountains. You do not need a referral. Become a patient and our team will find a time that works.
Why Choose Asheville Psychiatry and Mental Health?
- Providers across Asheville and western North Carolina who actually listen and take their time
- Now accepting new patients because waiting makes everything harder
- We accept most major insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare — and work with you on costs
- A practice that treats you like a person, not a number