Assessment
How an initial psychiatric assessment turns your story into a diagnosis and a treatment plan
Behind the questions in an initial psychiatric assessment: how symptoms, history, and context become a working diagnosis and a treatment plan you helped shape.
From conversation to plan
- Your current symptoms, how long they have lasted, and how much they affect your days
- Patterns over time: episodes, triggers, and what has helped before
- Medical history and medications, because both can shape mood, sleep, and focus
- Family history, which can make some conditions more or less likely
- Safety, so the plan starts at the right level of care
- Your goals and preferences, including how you feel about medication
What comes out of it
A working diagnosis
Sometimes clear at the first visit, sometimes refined over a few. Either way, you know what Jessica is thinking and why.
A plan you helped build
Options are explained in plain language. You weigh in before anything is decided, and medication is optional.
A baseline
The assessment records where you started, so progress at follow-ups can be measured against something real.
Common questions
How does the assessment lead to a diagnosis?
By matching the pattern of your symptoms, their duration, and their impact against established criteria, and by considering medical and medication causes. Some diagnoses are clear quickly; others, such as bipolar disorder or ADHD, may become clearer over several visits.
Will the plan always include medication?
No. The plan may be supportive therapy, practical strategies, a referral, medication, or a combination. Medication is optional.
What if the first diagnosis turns out to be wrong?
Diagnoses are working hypotheses that get refined as more is known. If the picture changes, the plan changes with it.
Is the assessment confidential?
Yes, within the limits of the law. Jessica will explain privacy protections and the rare situations where she is required to share information.
Keep exploring
Book a visit
Three ways to book
Insurance
Through Alma
Plans include
- Aetna
- Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Connecticut
- Carelon Behavioral Health, Inc.
- Cigna
- and more
Intake appointments booked through Alma are 45 minutes, by video.
Insurance
Through Headway
Plans include
- Aetna
- Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
- Carelon Behavioral Health
- Cigna
- and more
See open times and check your coverage on Headway.
Self-pay
Pay directly
- Initial Evaluation
- $400
- Follow-Up & Medication Management
- $100
Self-pay visits are booked by request. Send one online or call, and we will follow up to schedule.
Plans listed as of September 2026. See every plan and self-pay detail
