You Do Not Need a Referral
One of the most common misconceptions about psychiatric evaluations is that you need a referral from your primary care doctor. In most cases, you do not. You can contact a psychiatrist's office directly, schedule an appointment, and be seen without any referral or prior authorization.
There are exceptions. Some insurance plans — particularly HMOs and certain Medicaid plans — require a referral from your primary care provider before they will cover a psychiatric visit. If you are unsure, call the number on the back of your insurance card and ask whether a referral is needed for outpatient psychiatric services.
At Empathy Health Clinic in Orlando, we accept most major insurance plans and our team can verify your benefits and referral requirements before your first visit.
Step 1: Decide What You Need
Psychiatric evaluations serve different purposes, and understanding what you need helps you find the right provider.
Diagnostic Evaluation
This is the most common type. You meet with a psychiatrist who conducts a comprehensive clinical interview to understand your symptoms, history, and functioning. The result is a diagnosis (or confirmation that no diagnosis applies) and a treatment recommendation. This is what most people mean when they search for a psychiatric evaluation.
Medication Evaluation
If you are already in therapy and your therapist has recommended considering medication, a medication evaluation focuses specifically on whether psychiatric medication could benefit you. Your psychiatrist reviews your symptoms, therapy progress, and medical history to make medication recommendations.
Second Opinion Evaluation
If you have been diagnosed with a psychiatric condition but are uncertain about the diagnosis or dissatisfied with your current treatment, a psychiatric second opinion provides an independent assessment from a different clinician.
ADHD Evaluation
ADHD evaluations involve additional testing beyond a standard clinical interview, including standardized rating scales, cognitive assessments, and collateral information. These evaluations are more specialized and typically take longer than general psychiatric evaluations.
Step 2: Find a Provider
What to Look For
Board certification — Your evaluating psychiatrist should be board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. This ensures they have completed medical school, a four-year psychiatry residency, and passed certification examinations.
Specialization — If you have a specific concern — ADHD, bipolar disorder, PTSD, anxiety, OCD — look for a provider with experience treating that condition.
Insurance acceptance — Verify that the provider accepts your insurance before scheduling. Empathy Health Clinic accepts Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and other major plans.
Availability — Long wait times for psychiatric evaluations are unfortunately common. Look for practices that offer same-week appointments so you are not waiting weeks or months to be seen.
In-Person vs. Virtual
Psychiatric evaluations can be conducted effectively via telehealth. The diagnostic interview, standardized assessments, and clinical observations that comprise a psychiatric evaluation translate well to secure video appointments. Virtual evaluations are available throughout Florida and eliminate transportation barriers.
Step 3: Prepare for Your Appointment
Preparation makes your evaluation more productive and accurate.
Gather Your History
Before your appointment, compile:
- Previous diagnoses and the providers who made them
- Current and past medications — names, doses, how long you took them, why you stopped, and how well they worked
- Medical history — chronic conditions, surgeries, head injuries, and current medications prescribed by other doctors
- Family psychiatric history — mental health conditions in parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, and uncles
- Therapy history — previous and current therapy, what approaches were used, and how helpful they were
Write Down Your Symptoms
In the moment, it can be difficult to remember everything you want to tell your psychiatrist. Writing down your concerns beforehand ensures you cover the important points:
- What symptoms are you experiencing?
- When did they start?
- How do they affect your daily life — work, relationships, sleep, appetite?
- What makes symptoms better or worse?
- What prompted you to seek evaluation now?
Bring Supporting Documentation
If available, bring previous psychiatric records, psychological testing reports, therapy notes, or relevant medical records. These help your psychiatrist understand your history more completely and avoid unnecessary repetition of previous assessments.
Step 4: What to Expect During the Evaluation
A comprehensive psychiatric evaluation at Empathy Health Clinic typically takes 60 minutes. During this time, your psychiatrist will:
Conduct a clinical interview — asking about your presenting concerns, symptom history, developmental history, social and occupational functioning, substance use, and family history
Administer screening tools — standardized questionnaires that help quantify symptoms and screen for conditions you may not have considered
Assess risk — evaluating for safety concerns including suicidal thoughts, self-harm, or danger to others
Formulate a diagnosis — synthesizing all information into a diagnostic impression and explaining their reasoning to you
Develop a treatment plan — recommending next steps, which may include medication, therapy, further testing, lifestyle changes, or a combination
Step 5: After the Evaluation
Your evaluation is the beginning of treatment, not a one-time event. Based on the results, your psychiatrist will recommend a treatment plan that may include:
- Medication management with regular follow-up appointments
- Therapy referrals for evidence-based treatments like CBT or EMDR
- Additional testing (neuropsychological evaluation, lab work, sleep studies)
- Ongoing psychiatric care with scheduled follow-ups
Schedule Your Evaluation
Ready to take the first step? Schedule a psychiatric evaluation at Empathy Health Clinic. We offer same-week appointments and accept most insurance plans.
Empathy Health Clinic is located in Winter Park, serving the greater Orlando area. Virtual evaluations are available throughout Florida.