What Is a Psychiatric Evaluation?
A psychiatric evaluation is your first appointment with a psychiatric provider. It is a thorough assessment of your mental health -- your symptoms, your history, what you have tried before, and what is going on in your life right now. The goal is to understand what you are dealing with and build a treatment plan that fits.
This is not a personality test or an interrogation. It is a conversation. Your provider asks questions, listens carefully, and works with you to figure out the best next steps. For many patients, this is the first time they have talked to someone who treats mental health conditions for a living, and that alone can feel like a relief.
What We Evaluate
During your evaluation, we assess for a range of conditions including depression, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic disorder, ADHD, PTSD, OCD, bipolar disorder, insomnia, and PMDD. We also screen for substance use, medical conditions that affect mood, and medication interactions. If you have been previously diagnosed, we review that diagnosis to make sure it still fits. If you have never been diagnosed, we work toward clarity.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
Your first appointment takes about 45-60 minutes. You will fill out intake paperwork before or when you arrive. During the session, your provider will ask about your symptoms, medical history, family history, current medications, sleep patterns, and daily functioning. Be as honest as you can -- there are no wrong answers, and nothing you say will surprise us.
If medication is appropriate, we can often write your first prescription the same day. If further testing is needed -- like GeneSight pharmacogenomic testing -- we will explain why and what to expect.
What to Bring
Bring your insurance card, a photo ID, a list of current medications (including supplements), and any previous psychiatric or psychological records you have. If you do not have records, that is fine. We start from where you are.
Insurance and Payment
Initial psychiatric evaluations are covered by most insurance plans, including SelectHealth, PEHP, Regence, Molina, and Utah Medicaid. Cash-pay rates are available for uninsured patients. Call us to verify your benefits before your first visit.