A first psychiatric evaluation is a one-hour conversation with a mental health provider. You talk about what’s been going on, your health, and your history, and you may fill out a short questionnaire. By the end, you should have a clearer idea of what’s happening and a plan for what comes next. It isn’t a test, and there are no wrong answers.
Feeling nervous beforehand is common. It helps to know how the hour usually goes, so here it is, start to finish.
What to bring to your first appointment
The National Institute of Mental Health suggests a little homework before any mental health visit. None of it takes long.
- A few notes on what you’ve noticed. When it started, how often it happens, and how much it gets in the way. Recent stress or big life changes belong on the list too.
- Every medication you take. That means over-the-counter pills, vitamins, herbal products, and supplements, not just the ones a provider started.
- What you know about your family’s mental health. Some conditions run in families, so “my dad had depression” is useful to hear.
- Two or three questions. Write them down. They’re easy to forget once you sit down.
- Your insurance card, if you’re using insurance.
You can bring a friend or relative if that makes it easier. NIMH points out that a companion can support you and help you remember what was said. You don’t need a referral, old records, or a diagnosis to book.
What happens during the hour
The American Psychiatric Association publishes guidelines on how a psychiatric evaluation of an adult should be done. American Family Physician’s summary of those guidelines lists what a provider should cover. Here’s what that looks like from your chair.
| Part of the visit | What you’ll likely be asked | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Why you came | What’s happening now and what you’d like help with | It sets the goal for the whole visit |
| Mood, sleep, and focus | How you’ve been feeling, sleeping, eating, and thinking | These patterns point toward, or away from, a diagnosis |
| Past care | Earlier therapy or medications, and what helped or didn’t | Nobody wants to retry a medication that already failed |
| Physical health | Medical conditions, current medications, your primary care doctor | Some illnesses and medications cause mental health symptoms |
| Family and daily life | Relatives’ mental health, work or school, home, and support | Your life shapes what a good plan looks like |
| Safety | Any thoughts of hurting yourself or someone else | Everyone is asked. It’s routine, not a judgment |
The safety questions catch some people off guard. Your provider asks every patient, much like a nurse takes everyone’s blood pressure. An honest answer helps them help you. For the reasoning behind each question, and what your provider listens for in the answers, see what we ask at the first visit, and why.
You can read more about how we approach this visit on our psychiatric evaluation in Long Beach page. If you’re still unsure how an evaluation differs from a screening, testing, or therapy, see what a psychiatric evaluation is, and what it isn’t.
The short questionnaires
The same guidelines recommend measuring symptoms with numbers, not only words. So you may be handed a brief form. Two common ones are the PHQ-9, which has nine questions about depression, and the GAD-7, which has seven questions about anxiety. Each takes a few minutes.
A score isn’t a diagnosis. It’s a starting point your provider talks through with you, and a baseline for later. If the number drops over the next few months, that’s one way you can both see the plan working.
Labs and your physical health
Sometimes a body problem shows up as a mental health problem. MedlinePlus, from the National Library of Medicine, explains that blood tests can show whether something like thyroid disease is behind mental health symptoms. If your provider wants to rule that out, they can order labs at a lab near you. Not everyone needs them.
What you leave with
Near the end of the hour, your provider tells you what they think is going on. If the picture is clear, that may be a working diagnosis. If it isn’t, they’ll say what they still need to learn. Then you talk about options together.
Those options may include medication, or they may not. The evaluation doesn’t commit you to anything. If you do start a medication, give it time. NIMH notes that psychiatric medication usually takes 4 to 8 weeks to work, and sleep and energy often get better before mood does. That’s what follow-up visits are for. Ours are 30-minute medication management appointments. For the day-to-day side of it, read what the first 30 days on a new medication usually feel like.
Is what I say kept private?
Yes. NIMH says plainly that what you discuss with a health care provider is private. Our notice of privacy practices explains how we protect your information and the limited cases where the law allows it to be shared.
Your evaluation, in person or by video
In person. Our office is at 3646 Long Beach Blvd # 205, in the Bixby Knolls business district of north Long Beach. Parking is on site, and Long Beach Transit’s Route 51 runs along the boulevard. We see people from all over Long Beach and from nearby cities like Signal Hill, Paramount, Compton, and Cerritos. Here’s the full list of cities we serve.
By telehealth. We do first evaluations and ongoing medication management by secure video for anyone in California. You just need to be in the state during the visit. The questions and the hour are the same. New in-person locations are coming to Northern California but aren’t open yet, so video is how to see us from there today. Torn between the two? Our in-person vs telehealth comparison lays it out.
Your evaluation is with Irine Achuamang, MSN, PMHNP-BC, a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner who is accepting new patients. She sees children, teens, adults, and older adults, for concerns including anxiety, depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and OCD. If the appointment is for your child, tell us when you book.
What it costs
We’re in network with many major plans, including Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, Optum, and UnitedHealthcare, and our team confirms your benefits before your first visit. We don’t accept Medi-Cal at this time. Without insurance, the 60-minute evaluation is $250 and a 30-minute follow-up is $150. Sliding-scale options are available, so please ask.
If you can’t wait for an appointment
If you’re thinking about hurting yourself, don’t wait for a booking. Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. It’s free and open 24 hours a day. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
Taking the first step
For a lot of people, booking is the hardest part. Request an appointment and pick in person or video, or contact our team if you’d like to ask something first. Hoping to be seen soon? Our guide to finding a same-week appointment has a few tips that help.
This article is for general education and is not medical advice or a substitute for a clinical evaluation. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free and available 24/7.