What Is a Psychiatric Evaluation?
A psychiatric evaluation is a structured assessment by a licensed provider to determine if you have a mental health condition and what treatment makes sense. It is not a personality test. It is not an interrogation. It is a conversation with a trained professional who asks the right questions and listens to the answers.
Evaluations are the starting point for diagnosing conditions like ADHD, anxiety, depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, OCD, and more. If you have never seen a psychiatrist before, this is where it begins. If you have a diagnosis but your treatment is not working, a fresh evaluation can uncover what was missed.
How We Do Evaluations
Your evaluation takes about 45 minutes. We review your symptoms, medical history, family history, medications, sleep, work, and daily functioning. We ask specific questions designed to differentiate between conditions that can look similar -- like ADHD and anxiety, or depression and bipolar disorder.
We do not rely on a single checklist. We use clinical judgment combined with evidence-based criteria. If lab work or additional testing like GeneSight would help clarify the picture, we order it.
At the end of the visit, you get a clear answer. Here is what we think is going on. Here is what we recommend. No vague "come back in a month and we will see."
What to Expect at Your First Visit
Show up. Be honest. That is the hardest part. Bring a photo ID, your insurance card, and a list of medications you take. If you have old records, medical notes, or school evaluations, bring those too. The more information we have, the more accurate the diagnosis.
Insurance and Payment
Psychiatric evaluations are covered by most insurance plans. We accept Anthem Blue Cross, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Nevada Medicaid (SilverSummit, Anthem Medicaid). Cash pay is available.
When to Get Evaluated
If something feels off and it has felt off for a while, get evaluated. If you are struggling at work, at school, or at home and you do not know why, get evaluated. If you have been self-medicating with alcohol, cannabis, or anything else to cope, get evaluated. You do not need to have a crisis to see a psychiatrist. You just need to want answers.