Brain Bath / Your first visit
Online psychiatric evaluations.
A clearer place to start.
You don’t need to arrive with a diagnosis or the perfect words. Your first appointment is a chance to talk through what’s happening, ask questions, and build a plan that fits your life.
- Who it’s for
- Adults 18+
- Visit format
- Online, by video
- Typical first visit
- 45–60 minutes
Start with understanding
What is a psychiatric evaluation?
A psychiatric evaluation is a structured conversation with a mental health provider about your symptoms, history, and goals. It helps us understand what may be contributing to how you feel and which treatment options make sense.
At Brain Bath, we look at your mental and physical health, previous treatment, and everyday life together. If medication may help, we’ll explain the options and how we would monitor your response.
You bring your experience. We help make sense of it.
What to expect
One conversation. Three important parts.
Your initial visit is longer than a follow-up so there’s time to understand your concerns and discuss next steps.
Tell us what brought you in.
We’ll talk about what you’ve noticed, when it started, and how it affects your days. You can bring notes, questions, or simply start wherever feels easiest.
- Mood & anxiety
- Focus & energy
- Sleep & daily life
Look at the full picture.
We’ll review previous diagnoses, treatments, and medication experiences, along with your medical history, family history, stress, and substance use.
- Past treatment
- Physical health
- Your context
Make a plan together.
We’ll explain our clinical impressions in plain language. Together, we’ll discuss treatment options, questions that need more exploration, and when to follow up.
- Your questions
- Treatment options
- Next steps
Before we meet
A little preparation.
A little less pressure.
You don’t need to remember everything perfectly. Bring what you can, and we’ll work through it together.
- A few notes about your concernsWhat feels hardest right now, what you want help with, and questions you’d like to ask.
- Your medication listCurrent medications, doses, supplements, and allergies. Include past psychiatric medications and how they affected you, if you remember.
- Your intake paperworkComplete the forms shared with you through the patient portal before your appointment.
- A private space and a video connectionChoose a quiet location and check your internet, camera, and microphone. Be in a state where Brain Bath provides care.
You don’t need to know your diagnosis
There’s more than one reason to reach out.
You might be exploring symptoms for the first time, revisiting a diagnosis, or wondering why your current treatment isn’t helping enough. Brain Bath evaluates and treats adults with a range of mental health concerns.
We also consider sleep difficulties and psychiatric symptoms following concussion or brain injury, including changes in mood, attention, and emotional regulation.
After your evaluation
A plan you can keep working on.
Follow-up appointments give us time to see how you’re doing and refine your care. Treatment can take adjustment, and your experience helps guide those decisions.
- Review changes in your symptoms and everyday functioning.
- Check medication benefits, side effects, and any concerns.
- Adjust treatment when appropriate and answer your questions.
- Agree on the next steps and follow-up schedule.
Questions before your first visit?
Do I need a diagnosis before booking?
No. Understanding your symptoms and considering possible diagnoses are part of the evaluation. You can book even if you’re unsure what kind of help you need.
Will I have to start medication?
Medication is a treatment option to discuss together. If it may be appropriate, we’ll explain its purpose, potential side effects, expected timelines, and alternatives so you can ask questions and make an informed decision.
Will I get a diagnosis at the first appointment?
We’ll discuss our clinical impressions and next steps. Sometimes a diagnosis becomes clearer during the first visit; sometimes additional information or follow-up is needed.
How much does an evaluation cost?
The private-pay rate is $300 for an initial evaluation and $150 for follow-up visits. Sliding scale is available. If you use insurance, your cost depends on your specific benefits. Visit Insurance & Pricing to explore plans and request a cost estimate.
Where can I attend my telehealth appointment?
Brain Bath provides adult telehealth psychiatric care in Michigan, California, Washington, Oregon, and New Mexico. You need to be physically located in a state where Brain Bath provides care during your appointment, with a private space and a working video connection.
Psychiatry that runs deep.
Let’s start with what’s on your mind.
Request an online psychiatric evaluation and take the next step toward understanding what you’re experiencing.