Akron, Ohio · also by telehealth
Psychiatric Evaluation in Akron, OH
A psychiatric evaluation in Akron is where your care begins: a 60-minute conversation about your history and what you need, not a rushed intake form.
What a Psychiatric Evaluation Includes
Your first appointment is a 60-minute initial evaluation. We go through your current symptoms, your history, any past treatment, and what you are hoping will change. Carlita asks follow-up questions, gives you room to answer them properly, and takes the time to understand the full picture of your circumstances before drawing any conclusions.
By the end of the visit, you will have a working sense of what is going on, whether that points toward a specific diagnosis or simply a plan to keep exploring. From there we talk about what treatment could look like: medication management, individual psychotherapy, or both together. Nothing is decided for you without that conversation. Follow-up visits after the first evaluation run 15, 30, 45 or 60 minutes depending on what is needed, so ongoing care never feels like it is stuck at the same pace as day one.
Some patients come in already carrying a diagnosis from a previous provider. Part of the evaluation is deciding, together, whether that diagnosis still fits, or whether the picture has changed enough to warrant a fresh look. You are never locked into a label from another chart.
Assessment and Diagnosis
Assessment and diagnosis is the clinical backbone of the evaluation. It means looking closely at how your symptoms actually show up day to day, ruling out what does not fit, and naming what does, carefully and only when the evidence supports it. If a diagnosis applies, we explain it in plain language, so you know what it means for your treatment plan going forward.
This step also covers screening for things that can look similar on the surface but need different care, so the plan we build afterward is aimed at the right target from the start.
Who It Is For
This evaluation is for adults 18 and older, whether you have never seen a psychiatric provider before or you are switching care and want a fresh, thorough look at where things stand. Patients come in for a wide range of reasons, most often symptoms that fit depression treatment or anxiety treatment, but also mood swings, trauma responses, attention difficulties or a diagnosis carried over from another provider that deserves a second look. You do not need to already know what is wrong. That is what the evaluation is for.
If you are unsure whether your situation is a fit, that uncertainty is a normal reason to book a free 15-minute consultation first and ask directly, rather than trying to self-diagnose before you ever talk to anyone.
What to Bring to Your First Appointment
Bring a list of any medications you currently take, including dosages, and notes on anything you have tried before that did or did not help. If you have records from a previous provider, sharing them speeds things up, though it is not required. If your visit is by telehealth, just make sure you have a private, quiet space and about an hour set aside.
It also helps to jot down a few specific examples of how things have been going lately: a hard week, a pattern you have noticed, a change in sleep or energy. Specifics are more useful to us than a general sense that something is off.
In Person in Akron or Online Across Ohio
Evaluations happen at our Firestone Park office in Akron or by secure telehealth psychiatry across Ohio, whichever fits your life better. Plenty of patients complete their entire first evaluation online and never need to set foot in the office. Appointments are available most weekdays and some evenings, so getting your first visit scheduled does not have to mean waiting weeks for a slot that fits around work.
Insurance We Accept
We accept Aetna, Anthem, BlueCross and BlueShield, CareSource, Cigna and Evernorth, Humana, Medicaid, Medicare, Molina Healthcare and Optum for evaluation visits. See the full breakdown on Medicaid, Medicare and the plans we accept. If we are not in-network with your plan, we can provide a superbill for you to submit yourself for possible reimbursement.
Questions Patients Ask
How long does a psychiatric evaluation take?
A new patient evaluation is typically 60 minutes, long enough to actually cover your history instead of rushing through a form. Follow-up visits after that run 15, 30, 45 or 60 minutes depending on what you need at that stage of care.
Do I need a referral to be evaluated?
No referral is required. You can book a psychiatric evaluation directly through our online booking page, and a free 15-minute consultation is available first if you would rather talk something through before committing to a full visit.
Can my evaluation be done by telehealth?
Yes. A full psychiatric evaluation can be completed by secure video anywhere in Ohio, with the same depth and structure as an in-person visit, or you can come into our Akron office if you prefer meeting face to face.
What happens after the evaluation?
You leave with a working diagnosis if one applies, explained in plain language, and a plan that may include medication management, individual psychotherapy, or both together. Nothing about that plan moves forward without talking it through with you first.
Book a Free 15-Minute Consultation
Call or email me for a free 15-minute consultation now, before booking a full evaluation. It is a chance to ask questions about insurance, telehealth, or anything else on your mind first, with no pressure to book anything on that call.
A thorough evaluation is the starting point for every service we offer. Return to mental health services in Akron to see the full range of care available once your evaluation is complete.
Book a free 15-minute consultation
Start with a conversation, then book your full evaluation when you are ready.