What to expect at the first visit

The initial psychiatric evaluation usually requires about one hour. At your first appointment, after completing your paperwork, a clinician will take you to the nurse's station to check your weight and blood pressure. The clinician will then take you to a room to begin your assessment. During this time you will be asked about the reason that you are coming to see us and what has been happening over the last several weeks to months in your life. We will need to know what medications you are currently taking including the amounts so it is important to have this information with you. We will also need to know about your past mental health treatment history and medical history. There will be other questions asked about your family, living situation, and functioning in school or employment. All of these questions help us learn about you and what may be affecting your life and the symptoms you are experiencing.

The doctor will ask some additional questions. After the doctor has obtained the necessary information to make a diagnosis and formulate a treatment plan, the doctor will discuss with you treatment options for medication, therapy, and/or further psychological testing. Once the treatment plan is decided, the doctor will write your prescriptions (if medicine is indicated) and/or refer you for an appointment with one of our therapists who are also in the same building.

It is important to remember that although it can be uncomfortable answering all of these personal questions, it will help us know how to best help you. The information that you give us will remain confidential and is essential to help us help you return to and maintain the life that you enjoy.

Scheduling a New Patient Appointment

To schedule a New Patient appointment, call our office at (910) 938-1114 and select option 2.  The caller should be the parent, patient or legal guardian of the patient or a medical provider.  Please be prepared to give full name, date of birth, address, phone number and insurance information -including policy holder name, date of birth, social security

**The legal guardian must be present at the initial appointment.  Please bring a picture ID, current insurance card, and co-payment.  If you are the non-biological legal guardian/parent, please bring (non-expired) legal paperwork assigning you as legal guardian.  New Patient paperwork may be completed in the office prior to the appointment time or may be downloaded from our website for your convenience.

Our clinicians work as a team to provide our patients with a full range of outpatient mental health services:

  • Diagnoses of Mental Disorders through Psychiatric Evaluations
  • Individual, Couples/Marital, Family Therapy
  • Group Therapy
  • Parenting Skills Education
  • Medication Management
  • Psychological Testing
  • Substance Abuse Evaluations

Scheduling/Rescheduling Follow Up Appointments

If a subsequent appointment is not scheduled for you when checking out, if you are in crisis, or if you are concerned about your mental health, please call our office to schedule/reschedule an appointment, selecting option 3.

Learn more about the Evaluation Process

A psychological evaluation (PEV) is completed to determine a person’s current diagnosis and indicated treatment needs.  During the PEV a clinical interview is completed that identifies the presenting problem, current symptoms, history of symptoms, background information, and pertinent medical information such as head trauma or seizure history.  Background information includes developmental history, family history, mental health history, and social history.  If a child, adolescent, or adult with developmental disabilities is the identified client/patient for the PEV; it is necessary for a parent or guardian to be present.  While there is similar information available from the MEV and TEV about the patient; it is important that PEV information be gathered in full to ensure it is accurate, since you are assisting the Evaluator who is reporting on the information and attesting to it as true.  Once the PEV is complete, it serves as the body of the evaluation report that is followed by tests administered, behavioral observations, test results, diagnostic impressions, diagnoses, and recommendations.  The PEV takes approximately an hour.  A subsequent testing appointment is scheduled for the necessary hours to complete testing which is generally estimated to be 3 hours.  Following testing, results are scored and interpreted, and a psychological assessment report is generated by the psychologist.  Approximately two weeks later a feedback session is scheduled to provide insight into diagnosis, treatment, recommendations, and to answer any questions you may have.
A therapy evaluation (TEV) is completed to determine a person’s current diagnosis, gather patient history, and develop treatment goals.  During the TEV a clinical interview is completed that identifies the presenting problem, current symptoms, history of symptoms, background information, and pertinent medical information such as chronic medical condition.  Background information may include developmental history, family history, mental health history, and social history.  If a child, adolescent, or adult with developmental disabilities is the identified client/patient for the TEV, it is necessary for a parent or guardian to be present.  There is similar information available from the MEV and PEV about the patient.  The TEV serves as the foundation for the therapist and the patient to develop treatment goals and plans based on the patient’s desired outcome of therapy.  The TEV takes approximately 45 minutes.  During the TEV the therapist will discuss with the patient the frequency and duration of treatment.