Psychiatric Evaluations in Chesapeake, VA
A psychiatric evaluation is a full hour with a board-certified psychiatric provider whose only job in that hour is to understand what is going on and tell you plainly what we think and what we recommend. It is the starting point for everything we do, whether the answer turns out to be medication, a referral, watchful waiting, or simply reassurance that what you are experiencing has a name and a treatment.
We evaluate children from age 6, adolescents, and adults, in person at our Chesapeake office or by secure video anywhere in Virginia. The initial evaluation is 60 minutes and $300, self-pay, with no membership and no surprise bill. New clients are usually seen within a week.
What happens in the 60-minute evaluation
Why now, and the story of your symptoms.
What led you to schedule, and what you want to be different in three months. When the symptoms started, how they have changed, and what makes them better or worse: mood, anxiety, sleep, energy, concentration, appetite, irritability, and thoughts of not wanting to be alive. We ask everyone; it is the most important question in psychiatry.
Your history and your medical picture.
Childhood, school, work, relationships, trauma, substances, and the family history of mental illness, which shapes which medications are most likely to work for you. Thyroid disease, hormone changes, sleep apnea, chronic pain, and other medical conditions can look exactly like depression or anxiety, so we order labs when the picture calls for them.
Every medication you have tried, and the plan.
Including the ones that "didn't do anything"; this is the single most useful information you can bring. By the end of the hour you hear a working diagnosis in plain language, why we think that is what is going on, what we recommend and why, the realistic timeline, and what to watch for. If medication is appropriate, prescriptions go to your pharmacy before you leave. If it is not, we say so.
An hour sounds long until you see what goes into it. The order varies with the person, but every evaluation covers the same ground, and you leave with a plan you understand and a direct line to your provider for the questions that come up afterward. Our article on what actually happens in a first psychiatric appointment walks through the hour in more detail, including what to bring.
Children, teens, and adults
We evaluate clients as young as 6. An evaluation for a child or teenager includes the parents and, with your permission, input from teachers or a therapist; for ADHD, learning concerns, and behavior changes, that collateral information is often what makes the diagnosis clear.
For adults, common reasons to be evaluated include depression that has not responded to treatment, anxiety that is running the day, adult ADHD, mood swings that may or may not be bipolar disorder, trauma and PTSD, including for veterans and military families, perinatal mood changes, and the mood, sleep, and brain-fog changes of perimenopause. A second opinion on a diagnosis or a medication plan you are unsure about is also a common and reasonable use of an evaluation.
In person in Chesapeake, or by video anywhere in Virginia
Our office is at 200 Carmichael Way, Suite 604, Chesapeake, VA 23322. If you would rather not travel, or you live elsewhere in Virginia, the same 60-minute evaluation is available by secure video; you need only be physically in Virginia at the time of the visit. Most first visits can be virtual. If a controlled medication such as a stimulant or a benzodiazepine is part of your history, tell us when you schedule, because your provider may ask for an in-person visit first.
What it costs
The initial 60-minute evaluation is $300, self-pay, the same price in person or by video. Follow-up medication-management visits are shorter and less expensive; we confirm the fee with you before you book. We provide a superbill on request so you can submit to your plan's out-of-network benefits, and HSA and FSA funds can typically be used.
The one exception is SPRAVATO®, which is provided through TRIP, our interventional psychiatry service line, and billed to your insurance.
Psychiatric evaluation vs. psychological testing
People often ask whether they need "testing." A psychiatric evaluation is a clinical assessment by a prescriber, built to reach a diagnosis and start treatment, and for most conditions, including ADHD, it is sufficient. A full psychological evaluation is standardized testing by a psychologist, which takes several sessions and produces a written report; it is the right tool when a school, a court, or an employer needs formal documentation, or when the diagnosis stays unclear after a clinical evaluation. We refer for testing when it is needed and coordinate with the psychologist.
What happens after the evaluation
You leave with a plan, prescriptions sent if appropriate, and a direct line to your provider by phone and email for the questions that come up between visits. The first follow-up is typically about a month later, when we know how the initial plan is landing; once things are stable, visits stretch to roughly every three months, with refills handled between them. If a medication needs a prior authorization from your pharmacy benefit, our team handles the paperwork.
If the evaluation points toward a treatment we do not provide, such as psychotherapy, psychological testing, or a higher level of care, we say so and help you find it.
When to seek an evaluation
If your mood, anxiety, attention, or sleep is affecting your work, school, or relationships; if a medication you are on is not working or you are not sure it is right; if someone who knows you well is worried; or if you simply want to know what is going on, that is reason enough. If you are in crisis or having thoughts of harming yourself, please do not wait for an appointment: call or text 988, or call 911.
Our Providers
Justin Ray
Justin T. Ray, PMHNP-BC, is a highly experienced psychiatric nurse practitioner and founder of South Chesapeake Psychiatry and Transforming Minds Interventional Psychiatry in Chesapeake, Virginia. A retired Navy veteran, he is known for his innovative approach to mental health care and dedication to improving the lives of individuals with complex psychiatric needs.
Amanda Snow
Amanda is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Board Certified (PMHNP-BC). She has over eight years experience as a PMHNP-BC and twenty-five years experience in mental health. Amanda is a Retired Navy Nurse.
Alysha Cunningham
I am a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Practitioner that provides comprehensive and holistic medication management and therapeutic interventions for clients experiencing psychiatric distress. My primary goal is to provide care that is specifically tailored to your needs and goals and create an environment where you feel understood and supported.
We’re here to help you through
A Collaborative Approach
We'll explore your needs together to develop a deeper understanding of how to best support you.
Getting a Diagnosis (If Applicable)
Based on the evaluation, a diagnosis may be provided to help explain your experiences.
Treatment Planning
You'll receive personalized recommendations, which may include therapy, lifestyle adjustments, or medication if appropriate.
Take the first step toward feeling better today.
We’re able to book psychiatric evaluations for new clients quickly, often in less than 1 week from reaching out. Schedule yours today!
Learn more before your evaluation
Articles from our providers on what the visit involves, what it costs, and how to choose a provider.
Questions we hear often
Find answers to common questions about our psychiatric evaluation process and what to expect.
A 60-minute conversation with a board-certified psychiatric provider covering your current symptoms, your history, every medication you have tried, your medical picture, and what you want to change. You leave with a working diagnosis in plain language and a treatment plan.
The initial evaluation is 60 minutes. If there is more to cover, we schedule a follow-up rather than rush; complex situations, such as a possible bipolar or ADHD diagnosis, sometimes take two visits.
A list of every psychiatric medication you have tried and what happened, your current medications and supplements, any recent labs, your pharmacy's name, and contact information for your therapist or primary care provider if you have one. No referral is needed.
Usually a working diagnosis, yes. Some situations need a second conversation, rating scales, or input from family before we are confident, and we will tell you if that is the case.
Yes. We see clients from age 6. Evaluations for children and adolescents include the parents and, with permission, input from teachers or a therapist.
$300, self-pay, in person or by video. We provide a superbill for out-of-network reimbursement on request, and HSA/FSA funds can typically be used. Follow-up visits are less.
Yes, for anyone physically located in Virginia at the time of the visit. If a controlled medication is part of your history, your provider may ask for an in-person first visit.
