Psychiatric Evaluation
Your first appointment with Dr. Sinha is a full psychiatric evaluation, and it runs 60 to 90 minutes. That length is deliberate, because a rushed intake tends to skip past the parts that end up mattering most. This appointment gives you room to talk through what has been going on, what you have already tried, and what you want to be different. Everything happens by secure video for patients located in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
What Happens During a Psychiatric Evaluation
A psychiatric evaluation is a guided conversation rather than a test you can pass or fail. Dr. Sinha starts with what brought you in: your current symptoms, when they began, and how they affect an ordinary day. From there the discussion moves through your mental health history, any treatment you have had before and how it went, your medical conditions, and the medications you take now.
Sleep, appetite, energy, and concentration come up, since changes there often point toward what is happening underneath. So do your relationships, your work or school situation, and the pressures at home. Family history matters as well, since several psychiatric conditions run in families.
Who This Is For: Adults, Children, & Adolescents Ages 3+
Dr. Sinha treats patients from age 3 through adulthood, so one family can work with the same psychiatrist across very different stages of life.
People book an evaluation for a few common reasons. Some are seeking psychiatric care for the first time. Some have a diagnosis already but feel their treatment has stopped working. Others want a second opinion before starting or changing a medication. Parents often reach out after a teacher, pediatrician, or therapist recommends an assessment for their child.
Conditions assessed here include anxiety disorders, mood disorders such as depression, ADHD, developmental disorders, eating disorders, and psychotic disorders.
What to Expect at Your First Appointment (60-90 Minutes)
Before the appointment, you fill out intake paperwork and receive a link to a secure video platform. You will need a private space, a stable connection, and a device with a working camera. You also need to be physically located in New York, New Jersey, or Pennsylvania during the visit, since licensing rules follow where the patient is sitting.
The appointment moves through three stages. The first covers your history and symptoms. In the second, Dr. Sinha shares what she is seeing, names a working diagnosis where the picture is clear enough, and explains her reasoning. The third stage covers your treatment options and what the next few weeks should look like.
When the patient is a child or teenager, a parent or caregiver joins for part of the appointment. Younger children are usually seen with a parent present throughout. Older teens often get time on their own, with the caregiver brought back in near the end.
How We Use the Evaluation to Build Your Treatment Plan
Once there is a working diagnosis, Dr. Sinha builds a plan around your goals, your history, and what you can realistically sustain. That plan may include medication, supportive and cognitive behavioral techniques used during sessions, changes to sleep and daily routine, or a referral for therapy or psychological testing.
Most patients move into ongoing medication management after the evaluation, with follow-up sessions of 30 to 45 minutes. Concerns commonly identified and treated after an initial assessment include anxiety, depression, ADHD, and child and adolescent mental health.
No plan is fixed after one appointment. Treatment gets reviewed and adjusted as you respond to it.
What to Bring
A few things make the appointment more productive:
A list of current medications and supplements, including doses
Names of medications you have tried before and how you responded to them
Records or notes from previous psychiatric or therapy providers
For children and teens, recent school reports, evaluations, or teacher feedback
Any questions you want answered, written down in advance
A private, quiet space where you can speak openly
Frequently Asked Questions
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The appointment lasts 60 to 90 minutes. Follow-up appointments after that are shorter, usually 30 to 45 minutes.
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This is an out of network practice, which keeps your records private and allows for longer appointments and a smaller caseload. You receive a detailed superbill after each visit to submit to your insurer for possible out of network reimbursement.
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Sometimes, though not always. Medication is one option among several, and it depends on what the evaluation shows. If medication makes sense for you, Dr. Sinha will walk through the options, the expected benefits, and the side effects first.
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You do not need to live there, but you do need to be physically present in one of those three states during your appointment. Dr. Sinha is licensed in all three.
Take the First Step
Book your complimentary 15 minute consultation and we will reach out within one business day. Call (646) 389-0538 or email drpri@resiliencepsychmed.com.