Psychiatric Evaluation in Florida
A psychiatric evaluation is the starting point of psychiatric care: a full 60 minute visit that produces a diagnosis and a written treatment plan. Ascend Psychiatry and Wellness provides evaluations by telehealth to patients anywhere in Florida.
Most people arrive at a psychiatric evaluation after months of trying to manage something on their own, or after a primary care visit that ended in a referral. The evaluation is where guesswork gets replaced with an actual clinical picture. It is the appointment that determines what you are dealing with, what is driving it, and what treatment is likely to help.
What a psychiatric evaluation is, and who it is for
A psychiatric evaluation is a structured clinical assessment performed by a psychiatrist. It combines a detailed interview about your symptoms and history with a review of your medical background, current medications, sleep, substance use, and family history. The purpose is diagnostic: to distinguish between conditions that can look similar on the surface, and to identify medical or medication-related factors that may be contributing.
An evaluation is appropriate whether you have never been treated before or have been in treatment for years. First-time patients need a diagnosis and a plan. Patients who have been treated elsewhere often need a fresh assessment because a prior diagnosis no longer fits, a medication has stopped working, or care was fragmented across several prescribers. It is also the right step when a primary care provider has started treatment and wants specialist input on where to go next.
Your first appointment: 60 minutes
The initial evaluation is a full 60 minutes with a psychiatrist. That length exists because an accurate diagnosis requires history, not just a symptom checklist. Over the hour your psychiatrist works through the concerns that brought you in, when they started, how they have changed, what has made them better or worse, and how they affect work, school, sleep, and relationships.
You will also cover prior diagnoses, every psychiatric medication you have tried and how you responded to each, relevant medical conditions and current prescriptions, and family psychiatric history. By the end of the appointment you have a working diagnosis, a treatment plan documented in your chart, any prescription sent to your pharmacy, and a clear picture of what the next few weeks should look like.
History and symptoms
A full account of what brought you in and how it has developed over time.
Diagnosis
A working diagnosis, including any co-occurring conditions and contributing medical factors.
Treatment plan
A documented plan, any medication started, and the schedule for follow-up.
Follow-up visits: 30 minutes
Follow-up appointments are 30 minutes and focus on how the plan is actually working. Your psychiatrist reviews symptom change since the last visit, side effects, sleep and appetite, adherence, and anything that has shifted in your circumstances. Medication is adjusted from there: dose changes, timing changes, augmentation, or a switch when a trial has not delivered.
After starting a new medication, most patients are seen again in two to four weeks, because that is the window where early response and early side effects both show up. Once you are stable, visits typically move to every one to three months. Ongoing psychiatric medication management continues at whatever interval your treatment requires.
How telehealth evaluation works across Florida
Our psychiatrists are licensed in Florida and see patients statewide by secure video. The evaluation itself is not abbreviated for being remote: it is the same 60 minutes, the same history, the same diagnostic process. What changes is the logistics. There is no commute, no waiting room, and no need to live near a specialty practice to reach one.
Before your appointment you complete intake paperwork online and receive a secure video link. You join from a smartphone, tablet, or computer with a camera, somewhere private enough to speak freely. Prescriptions are transmitted electronically to the pharmacy you choose. Because licensure is statewide rather than local, patients in smaller Florida communities reach the same psychiatrists as patients in Miami or Tampa, and your care follows you if you move within the state.
Insurance and cost
We accept Cigna, Aetna, Optum, Medicare, Tricare, Oscar, UMR, Surest, UHS, Evernorth, Meritain, UnitedHealth, Allegiance, SureFit and NALC Health. With one of these plans, you pay your plan’s specialist copay or coinsurance. Cash pay rates are published in full, with no separate facility or booking fees.
| Visit type | Length | Cash pay rate |
|---|---|---|
| Initial psychiatric evaluation | 60 minutes | $300 |
| Follow-up visit | 30 minutes | $150 |
See our fees and insurance page for plan details and HSA or FSA eligibility.
Ready to schedule your psychiatric evaluation?
Cigna, Aetna, Optum, Medicare, Tricare, Oscar, UMR, Surest, UHS, Evernorth, Meritain, UnitedHealth, Allegiance, SureFit and NALC Health accepted. Cash pay is $300 for the initial 60 minute evaluation.
When to seek a psychiatric evaluation
There is no threshold of suffering you have to clear first. In general, an evaluation is worth scheduling when any of the following has been true for several weeks or more.
- Low mood, loss of interest, or hopelessness that is not lifting. See depression treatment.
- Persistent worry, panic episodes, or avoidance that is shrinking your daily life. See anxiety treatment.
- Long-standing problems with focus, follow-through, or impulsivity. See ADHD treatment.
- Mood swings, periods of unusually elevated energy, or cycling between extremes. See bipolar and mood disorder treatment.
- A current medication that is not working, has stopped working, or is causing side effects you cannot tolerate.
- Symptoms interfering with work, school, parenting, or relationships in a way you cannot manage alone.
If you are in immediate danger or thinking about harming yourself, do not wait for an appointment. Call 911 or 988 now.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a psychiatric evaluation take?
The initial psychiatric evaluation is 60 minutes with a psychiatrist. The full hour is used for symptom review, complete psychiatric and medical history, prior treatments and how you responded to them, and treatment planning. Follow-up appointments after the evaluation are 30 minutes each, scheduled as your treatment requires.
What happens during a psychiatric evaluation?
Your psychiatrist takes a detailed history of your current symptoms, past diagnoses, medications tried and how you responded, medical conditions, sleep, and family history. That information produces a working diagnosis and a written treatment plan, including any medication started and the timeline for follow-up.
Can a psychiatric evaluation be done by telehealth in Florida?
Yes. Florida-licensed psychiatrists may perform complete psychiatric evaluations over secure video, and the visit is the same length and depth as an in-person appointment. Patients anywhere in Florida can complete an evaluation, receive a diagnosis, and begin treatment without traveling to an office.
How much does a psychiatric evaluation cost?
Our cash pay rate is $300 for the 60 minute initial evaluation and $150 for each 30 minute follow-up. We also accept Cigna, Aetna, Optum, Medicare, Tricare, Oscar, UMR, Surest, UHS, Evernorth, Meritain, UnitedHealth, Allegiance, SureFit and NALC Health, in which case you pay your plan’s specialist copay or coinsurance. HSA and FSA funds may be applied to either option.
Do I need a referral for a psychiatric evaluation?
In most cases no referral is required, and you can schedule directly with our practice. Some insurance plans do require a referral from your primary care provider before they will cover specialist visits, so it is worth confirming that with your plan before your appointment.
What is the difference between a psychiatric evaluation and a therapy session?
A psychiatric evaluation is a medical diagnostic assessment performed by a physician, focused on diagnosis and on whether medication is appropriate. Our practice provides psychiatric evaluation and medication management rather than counseling services, and we coordinate with an outside counselor when your plan calls for one.
Will I be prescribed medication at my first appointment?
Sometimes, but not always. If the evaluation supports starting medication and you agree with that plan, a prescription can be sent to your pharmacy the same day. In other cases your psychiatrist may recommend further information, lab work, or a period of monitoring before prescribing.
How do I prepare for a telehealth psychiatric evaluation?
Bring a list of every medication and supplement you take with doses, the names of psychiatric medications you have tried before, and any prior diagnoses or records you have. Noting when your symptoms started and what makes them better or worse helps your psychiatrist use the hour efficiently.
The content on this page is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read here. If you are experiencing a psychiatric emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. You may also reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.
Get an answer, not another guess
A full 60 minute evaluation with a psychiatrist, by telehealth, anywhere in Florida.