Reviewed 2026-09-21 · DNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC
Fort Lauderdale psychiatric evaluation: scales plus history
Insurance verification happens before the visit so the evaluation itself is clinical time.
What Psychiatric Evaluations actually includes
Screening appointments can triage; they do not replace a full evaluation when bipolar, psychosis, or perinatal risk is on the table.
Mental health assessment in this practice means structured interviewing plus scales. Screening is not the same as a full diagnostic formulation.
Protocol elements we do not skip
Higher level of care is recommended when outpatient Psychiatric Evaluations cannot hold the risk.
QT, sodium, TSH, and metabolic labs when the chosen medication class requires them.
Follow-up interval tightens when a new antidepressant, antipsychotic, or mood stabilizer is started.
Pregnancy status and contraception when prescribing agents with teratogenic or lactation issues.
Parking, hours, and video visits
Parking at 7603 Davie Road Extension is on site. Fort Lauderdale patients who drive 20 minutes should plan for weekday 9:00–17:00 hours; Saturday is by appointment only.
South Florida heat, hurricane disruption, shift work, and multigenerational households show up in Fort Lauderdale presentations. Psychiatric Evaluations intake asks about those stressors explicitly.
Psychiatric review of systems covers mood, anxiety, psychosis, OCD, trauma, ADHD, sleep, eating, and substance use even if you came for only one of those.
History of present illness is a timeline, not a mood adjective. We date onsets, postpartum windows, and medication trials.
Indications and differentials
A request for a second opinion before a major medication change or a disability form.
New or unexplained mood, anxiety, attentional, or psychotic symptoms lasting beyond a brief adjustment reaction.
Substance use that may be inducing or masking a primary psychiatric disorder.
Antidepressant trials that failed, caused mixed features, or were never given an adequate dose/duration.
From intake to follow-up: Psychiatric Evaluations
Before the visit: intake forms, medication list, prior labs. Incomplete forms shrink the diagnostic hour.
Opening 10 minutes: chief concern, safety, and what you want the evaluation to decide.
Scales are chosen to match the hypothesis — we do not print every questionnaire in the building.
Follow-up is scheduled before you leave so the evaluation is not a one-off performance.
Fort Lauderdale FAQs for Psychiatric Evaluations
Can the evaluation be done by video?
Often yes if you are physically in Florida and a physical exam is not required. High-risk, first-episode psychosis, or complex medical cases may need the Hollywood office.
Do you treat ADHD in adults?
Yes, with a differential that includes sleep, trauma, mood, and thyroid mimics. Childhood history still matters.
Will you prescribe on visit one?
Only when the diagnosis, safety, and monitoring plan support it. Controlled substances have a higher bar.
What labs might you order?
Hypothesis-driven: TSH with free T4, ferritin, vitamin D, B12, folate, CBC, CMP, and selected hormones. Not every patient needs every test.
Where is the office?
7603 Davie Road Extension, Hollywood, FL 33024 — about 20 minutes from Fort Lauderdale.
Do you accept insurance?
Most major plans are accepted; verify benefits before the visit. Coverage is not a clinical promise.
Do you serve downtown Fort Lauderdale?
Yes. Our Hollywood office is about 20 minutes from downtown Fort Lauderdale, and we offer telehealth appointments for busy downtown professionals.
Can you help with work-related anxiety and burnout?
Absolutely. We see many Fort Lauderdale professionals dealing with workplace stress, burnout, and performance anxiety. Our evaluations identify root causes and create targeted treatment plans.
Next step
After Psychiatric Evaluations is scheduled, complete intake forms once. Repeating the same history at every visit is what we are trying to avoid.
Request a Psychiatric Evaluations visit by calling (888) 307-2199 or using the booking form. Bring current medications, prior labs, and a list of what has already been tried.
Related care
Clinician: Dr. Dorothy Chatelier, DNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Last medical review: 2026-09-21.
Florida telehealth psychiatry is available to established and new patients located in Florida at the time of the visit, subject to licensure and clinical appropriateness. An in-person evaluation at the Hollywood office may be recommended when a physical exam, vital signs, or a more complete diagnostic interview is needed.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It does not establish a provider-patient relationship. Always seek care from a qualified clinician for questions about a medical or psychiatric condition. If you are in crisis, call 988 or go to the nearest emergency department.