Mental Health Evaluation
When you need clarity
Sometimes you know something is not quite right, but you are not sure what is happening or what to call it. You may be experiencing anxiety, depression, difficulty concentrating, changes in mood, relationship problems, or other concerns that are interfering with your life. You may also already have a diagnosis and want to better understand whether it still fits.
A mental health evaluation can help make sense of these concerns.
As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with diagnostic privileges, I provide comprehensive mental health evaluations and diagnostic assessments. This type of assessment is within the scope of practice of licensed mental health professionals who are authorized to diagnose mental health conditions, including LMHCs, LCSWs, and clinical psychologists.
What is a mental health evaluation?
A mental health evaluation is a focused clinical assessment designed to understand your current concerns, symptoms, history, functioning, and relevant circumstances. The goal is to develop a clearer clinical picture and determine whether your symptoms are consistent with a diagnosable mental health condition.
An evaluation may be helpful if you are:
Unsure whether your symptoms meet criteria for a diagnosis such as ADHD, depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, BPD, etc.
Seeking documentation for gender-affirming care, including letters of support.
A college student who needs an assessment to determine appropriate campus-based mental health care or potential accommodations.
Seeking FMLA or medical-leave documentation related to a mental health condition.
Wanting a clearer understanding of your mental health before deciding what type of treatment is appropriate.
Evaluation vs. Psychotherapy
A mental health evaluation is not the same as psychotherapy.
Psychotherapy is an ongoing process focused on understanding yourself, exploring patterns and relationships, and creating meaningful psychological change over time. A mental health evaluation is a short-term, assessment-focused service intended to answer specific clinical questions.
An evaluation typically involves gathering information about your symptoms, personal and mental health history, current functioning, and relevant circumstances. Based on this information, I provide a clinical assessment and diagnostic impression, when appropriate.
You do not need to commit to ongoing therapy to receive an evaluation.
What to expect
Evaluations are collaborative and conversational. Rather than simply completing a checklist of symptoms, we will discuss what you have been experiencing and the context in which those concerns developed.
Depending on your needs, an evaluation may include:
A review of your current symptoms and concerns
Relevant personal, family, and mental health history
Assessment of your current functioning
Additional interview with family members or friends
Consideration of alternative or overlapping diagnoses
Clinical diagnostic assessment using DSM-5-TR criteria
Recommendations for treatment or additional evaluation when appropriate
A written summary or documentation when clinically indicated
Most evaluations can be completed in one to three sessions, depending on the complexity of the questions being addressed. We will discuss expected duration in a brief consultation call.
A focused service for a specific question
You may not need months of psychotherapy to answer a question about your mental health. Sometimes you need a qualified professional to step back, look at the larger picture, and help you understand what may be going on.
A mental health evaluation provides an opportunity to do exactly that, with enough time and clinical attention to move beyond simply identifying symptoms and toward understanding the overall clinical picture.
If you are looking for diagnostic clarity or a focused assessment of your mental health concerns, I offer short-term mental health evaluations for adults in New York and New Jersey.
FAQ
Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime.
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A mental health evaluation is a short-term, assessment-focused service designed to better understand your symptoms, mental health history, current functioning, and treatment needs. An evaluation may result in a diagnostic impression and recommendations for appropriate care when clinically supported.
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Psychotherapy is an ongoing treatment focused on creating psychological change over time. An evaluation is focused on answering specific clinical questions, such as whether your symptoms meet criteria for a diagnosis, what level of care may be appropriate, or what treatment and support services may be beneficial.
You do not need to commit to ongoing psychotherapy to receive an evaluation.
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Most evaluations can be completed in 1–3 sessions, depending on the complexity of the concerns being assessed and the information needed to make a clinical determination.
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Evaluations may address concerns including depression, anxiety, PTSD, borderline personality disorder, ADHD, and other mental health conditions. An evaluation can also focus on treatment needs, level-of-care recommendations, psychosocial functioning, or other specific clinical questions.
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When clinically appropriate, I can provide a diagnostic impression based on the information gathered during the evaluation and applicable diagnostic criteria. A diagnosis is not provided simply because a client requests a particular diagnosis; it must be clinically supported by the evaluation.
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Yes. ADHD evaluations include an assessment of symptoms, history, functioning, and relevant differential diagnoses. When clinically supported, the evaluation can include a diagnostic impression and treatment recommendations.
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Letters of support may be provided when clinically indicated and when the requirements of the relevant medical provider or administrator are met. Because requirements vary, an evaluation does not automatically guarantee that a letter will be provided.
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An evaluation may provide clinical documentation when a mental health condition is sufficiently supported. Whether documentation is accepted for FMLA or another leave program is ultimately determined by the employer, leave administrator, or applicable requirements.
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An evaluation may help identify mental health concerns and appropriate treatment or support recommendations. Whether an evaluation meets a college's documentation requirements for accommodations depends on the institution and its specific policies.
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An evaluation can help identify appropriate treatment and support options based on your clinical presentation and current functioning. Recommendations may include psychotherapy, psychiatry, case management, career counseling, health coaching, or other supportive services.
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No. An evaluation is a standalone service. If ongoing psychotherapy is recommended, you can decide whether to pursue treatment with me or another provider.
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Documentation provided depends on the purpose and scope of the evaluation. If a written summary, diagnostic documentation, or letter is clinically appropriate, this will be discussed as part of the evaluation process.
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No. As a mental health counselor, I do not prescribe medication. When medication evaluation or management may be appropriate, I can recommend consultation with a qualified prescribing professional.
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No. A clinical mental health evaluation is different from comprehensive psychological or neuropsychological testing. If your concerns require specialized psychological or neuropsychological testing, I can recommend an appropriate provider.
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Evaluations are intended for individuals who have a specific clinical question or need greater clarity about their mental health, diagnosis, treatment needs, or appropriate support services.
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I offer a free 15 minute phone consultation to discuss your evaluation needs. Contact me here to get started.