Reviewed 2026-09-21 · DNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea psychiatric evaluation: scales plus history
Dr. Dorothy Chatelier, DNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC conducts a structured diagnostic interview, then decides which labs, scales, and follow-up cadence actually belong on the plan.
Clinical scope of Psychiatric Evaluations in Broward County
Hormone-mood assessment reviews estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid, and cortisol clues without claiming every mood symptom is endocrine.
A psychiatric evaluation is a diagnostic procedure: history, mental status, risk, collateral when needed, and a differential. It is not a personality quiz.
Clinical FAQ
Do you diagnose on the first visit?
Usually we can state a working diagnosis and differential after the first complete interview. Some presentations need collateral, labs, or a second visit.
Will you prescribe on visit one?
Only when the diagnosis, safety, and monitoring plan support it. Controlled substances have a higher bar.
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.
Is the visit confidential?
HIPAA applies, with the usual safety exceptions (imminent harm, mandated reports).
What if I am in crisis?
Call 988 or go to an emergency department. This clinic is not an after-hours crisis line.
Can I use this evaluation for a legal letter?
Only if the interview actually supports the opinion. We do not write unsupported letters.
Are psychiatric services available near Lauderdale-by-the-Sea?
While we're not located in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, our Hollywood office is about 25 minutes away, and our telehealth platform makes follow-up care extremely convenient for coastal residents.
Do you address seasonal mood changes?
Yes. Seasonal affective patterns, including reverse SAD (summer-related), are recognized in our evaluations. Florida's unique climate patterns can affect mood differently than northern states.
How Psychiatric Evaluations is structured
History of present illness is a timeline, not a mood adjective. We date onsets, postpartum windows, and medication trials.
Safety: if risk is high, we stop the routine template and use crisis pathways.
Opening 10 minutes: chief concern, safety, and what you want the evaluation to decide.
Formulation is shared in plain language: what is likely, what is possible, what we are watching.
Parking, hours, and video visits
Commute noise on I-95 and the Turnpike changes whether an in-office Psychiatric Evaluations visit is realistic this week. Telehealth is used when the clinical exam does not require the office.
ZIP 33308 is the lead postal code listed for Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. Mail-order labs and pharmacy routing still use the patient's actual address, not this page's city token.
After the visit you should be able to repeat the working diagnosis and the next three steps.
Scales are chosen to match the hypothesis — we do not print every questionnaire in the building.
Protocol elements we do not skip
Pregnancy status and contraception when prescribing agents with teratogenic or lactation issues.
Notes are written the same day whenever possible so the record matches the visit.
Benzodiazepines, when used, have an indication, a taper plan, and a discussion of dependence.
Missed appointments after a high-risk visit trigger outreach, not silent discharge.
What we rule in — and rule out
A request for a second opinion before a major medication change or a disability form.
Prior diagnoses that conflict with each other or with the current mental status exam.
Substance use that may be inducing or masking a primary psychiatric disorder.
Pediatric primary care is not the focus of this clinic; adolescents are considered case-by-case.
Schedule with Dr. Dorothy Chatelier, DNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC
Call (888) 307-2199 to hold an appointment for Psychiatric Evaluations. Mention Lauderdale-by-the-Sea so staff can plan in-office versus Florida telehealth for the first visit.
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.