Psychiatric Evaluation in York, PA: A Full 60-Minute Assessment, Usually Within a Week

Our initial psychiatric evaluations are 60 minutes. This is significantly longer than the 15–20 minute slots some practices use, because doing it well takes time. Per the APA Practice Guidelines for the Psychiatric Evaluation of Adults (3rd ed.), a comprehensive initial assessment covers nine domains — symptom history, treatment history, substance use, suicide risk, aggression risk, cultural factors, medical health, quantitative assessment, and shared decision-making about treatment.

Follow-up visits are 30 minutes. The first visit is the most time-intensive because we're building the foundation; subsequent visits build on that base.

The visit follows a structured but conversational format. First, intake and screening — verifying information, going over confidentiality, completing rating scales (PHQ-9, GAD-7, AUDIT, others as relevant). Second, the opening question: what brought you in? You describe what you're experiencing in your own words. Third, comprehensive history: psychiatric history, medications tried, medical history, family history, social context, substance use, trauma, current safety. Fourth, mental status examination — structured observation of mood, thought process, perception, and cognition that's the psychiatric equivalent of a physical exam. Fifth, diagnostic discussion and treatment plan — what we're seeing, what we recommend, what alternatives exist, and what fits your preferences.

You leave with a working diagnosis, a treatment plan, prescriptions sent to your pharmacy if applicable, lab orders if needed, and a scheduled follow-up.

A few things help the visit go well: (1) Bring your insurance card and photo ID; (2) Make a list of all current medications and supplements with doses; (3) Write down past psychiatric medications you've tried — even just the names if you don't remember doses; (4) Note family members with mental health conditions if you know them; (5) Bring any recent labs, imaging, or specialist letters; (6) Write down your concerns and questions beforehand so you don't forget them in the moment.

For ADHD evaluation, having a teacher or co-worker complete a Vanderbilt rating scale ahead of time is helpful. For minors, a parent or guardian must attend. Bring an open mind — we're not here to judge what you tell us; we're here to help you figure out what's going on and what to do about it.

Usually, yes — either a working diagnosis with reasonable confidence, or a list of conditions we're considering with a plan for evaluating further. Sometimes the picture is clear at the first visit. Sometimes it requires lab work to rule out medical causes (thyroid, B12, vitamin D), additional rating scales, or watching how you respond to initial treatment before committing to a final diagnosis. Either way, we'll tell you what we're thinking and why, in plain English.

Diagnoses are clinical impressions, not labels. They guide treatment but don't define you, and they can change over time as we learn more or as your situation evolves. We treat diagnosis as a working tool, not a final verdict.

Often yes, when medication is clinically appropriate and we have enough information to prescribe safely. Common scenarios where we prescribe at the first visit: SSRIs/SNRIs for depression or anxiety, sleep aids for insomnia, non-controlled medications for various conditions. Prescriptions are sent electronically to your pharmacy.

For controlled substances (stimulants for ADHD, benzodiazepines, certain sleep medications), the situation is more nuanced. We frequently prescribe stimulants for ADHD when the diagnosis is clear and the evaluation supports it. For benzodiazepines, we typically prefer non-controlled alternatives where possible — but we discuss tradeoffs honestly. Per federal DEA telehealth flexibilities currently in effect, we can prescribe controlled substances via telehealth in many cases; we'll discuss what applies to your situation.

We evaluate and treat the full range of common adult and adolescent psychiatric conditions: depression, anxiety disorders (generalized, panic, social, phobias), ADHD, bipolar disorder, PTSD and trauma, sleep disorders, substance use disorders, adjustment disorders, and the full intersection of physical and mental health (thyroid issues affecting mood, sleep apnea contributing to depression, etc.).

We don't treat: psychotic disorders requiring high-acuity care (schizophrenia, severe mania requiring hospitalization), complex eating disorders requiring specialty programs, severe substance use requiring residential treatment, or active acute crises requiring inpatient psychiatric care. For these we refer to appropriate specialty care or higher levels of treatment.

Yes. Mental health services including psychiatric evaluation are covered under federal mental health parity laws by all major insurance plans. We accept all major insurances. Call today to confirm your insurance. (717) 202-2285. Most patients pay only their plan's specialist copay (typically $20–60).

Self-pay rates: $249 for the initial evaluation, $99 for medication management follow-ups. HSA, FSA, cash, credit card, and check accepted.

A psychiatric evaluation is conducted by a prescribing provider (psychiatrist, PMHNP) and focuses on diagnosis, the whole clinical picture (medical and psychiatric), and a treatment plan that may include medication, psychotherapy, or both. A therapy intake is conducted by a therapist (psychologist, LCSW, LPC) and focuses on what brings you to therapy, your goals, and the therapy approach you'll use together. Therapists don't prescribe medications.

At Optimal Health York, our providers can begin psychotherapy with you themselves, within the same visits as your medication management — so you don't need a separate intake to get started. When your needs call for a specialized approach outside our focus (for example, EMDR for complex trauma or ERP for OCD), we refer you to a therapist who provides it and coordinate care with them. Psychotherapy in York: details.

Yes. We provide initial psychiatric evaluations via secure HIPAA-compliant telehealth across Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. The same 60-minute APA-aligned evaluation protocol applies. You must be physically located in a state where your provider is licensed at the time of the visit. Abu Koroma sees patients in PA, MD, and VA (ages 12+); Zainab Koroma sees patients in PA and MD (ages 8+) including in-person at York.

For telehealth, you'll need a quiet, private space with a stable internet connection — not a public space, not a moving vehicle. Many patients prefer telehealth for the privacy and reduced friction.

New patient psychiatric evaluations are typically available within one week. Same-day and next-day telehealth appointments are sometimes available depending on schedule. Call (717) 202-2285 or book online 24/7 through our HIPAA-compliant patient portal.

If you're in active crisis — thoughts of suicide or self-harm, severe agitation, inability to function safely — a scheduled psychiatric evaluation is not the right level of care for the moment. Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), call 911, or go to your nearest emergency room. Once you're stabilized, we can take over outpatient follow-up.