Diagnostic Evaluations

If you struggle with difficult emotions, cognitive problems, or behaviors that cause dysfunction in your life, the first step in getting help is a Psychiatric Evaluation. The board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioners at Owl & Eagle Health and Wellness perform a thorough psychiatric diagnostic evaluation including comprehensive psychiatric and medical history, family and social history, in-depth exploration of your symptoms, and laboratory testing to ensure accurate psychiatric diagnosis and to discover underlying causes for your symptoms. Neurocognitive testing can help clarify diagnoses if necessary. 

By taking time to get to know you and understand what you are going through, our providers can work with you to develop a customized, holistic psychiatric treatment plan that includes psychiatric medications, psychotherapy, and evidence based integrative care such as nutritional guidance, stress management, sleep hygiene, vitamins, supplements, exercise, meditation, yoga, and breathwork. Genetic testing can be used to identify which psychiatric medications are most likely to be effective and tolerable for you. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can be incorporated when appropriate. Our holistic and integrative approach to care can effectively treat your symptoms while helping you optimize your overall health and well-being.  

Owl & Eagle Health and Wellness provides expert Psychiatric Evaluation services for children, teens, and adults. Psychiatric Evaluations can be provided in person at our offices in Denver and Golden, CO, or via telehealth throughout Colorado. Contact Us with questions or Book Now to request an intake appointment today.

How often will I have follow up visits? 

When you are starting new psychiatric medication, your psychiatric nurse practitioner will schedule follow up visits with you every 2-4 weeks to discuss how your medication regimen is working, monitor for side effects, and assess your progress. They may change your dosage, switch medications, or make other adjustments to your treatment plan as needed. Once you are stable on your medication regimen, follow ups will occur about every 2-3 months to ensure that you continue to do well. 

Can I ever get off psychiatric medication?  

Whether coming off psychiatric medication is recommended depends on your diagnosis and history. Some conditions, such as test-taking anxiety or adjustment disorder, can be treated with temporary courses of medication. Some chronic psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, usually require long-term treatment with medication to maintain stability and function. Some disorders, such as depression, can go either way. Adopting lifestyle changes like healthy diet, exercise, sleep hygiene, and stress management, and combining psychiatric medicine with psychotherapy and integrative treatments such as vitamins, supplements, and TMS treatments will increase your chances of coming off psychiatric medication successfully.

Your psychiatric nurse practitioner will make recommendations for how long you should take medications before attempting to stop them. If you decide to stop your medication, they will help you taper off safely, and will see you for follow up visits to ensure that your symptoms do not recur.   

If you are interested in treatment with Psychiatric Medications for a child, teen, or adult at Owl & Eagle Health and Wellness, Contact Us with questions or Book Now to request an intake appointment today.

Appointments for Psychiatric Medication Management are available either in-person in our offices in Denver or Golden, Colorado, or via telehealth anywhere in Colorado.

What is a Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation?

A Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation at Owl & Eagle Health and Wellness is a 60-90 minute visit, during which your psychiatric nurse practitioner will ask questions about: 

• Mental health history

• Medical history

• Family history

• Social history

• Symptoms

• Emotions

• Mood

• Thoughts

• Behaviors

• Lifestyle

• Medication history

• Lab tests

• Psychiatric testing

• Neurocognitive testing

Your psychiatric nurse practitioner will put all of this information together to determine diagnoses. At Owl & Eagle Health and Wellness, our psychiatric nurse practitioners are highly skilled in providing thorough evaluations, so they can make accurate diagnoses and develop a treatment plan that will be effective and will get you feeling better fast.

Which conditions do Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluations address?

Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluations identify and treat:

• Anxiety Disorders (Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Social Phobia, etc.)

• Mood Disorders (Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Dysthymia, Cyclothymia, etc.)

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• Psychotic Disorders (Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective, Substance Induced, etc.)

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• Autism Spectrum Disorders

• Eating Disorders (Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating, etc.)

• Personality Disorders (Borderline, Narcissistic, Schizoid, etc.)

• Sleep Disorders (Insomnia, Circadian Rhythm Disorders, Narcolepsy, etc.)

• Addictions (Alcohol and Drug Addiction, Internet/Social Media, Gambling, etc.)

• Sexual Disorders (Loss of Libido, Erectile Dysfunction, Anorgasmia)

• Memory Disorders (Mild Cognitive Impairment, Dementia)

• Cognitive Disorders

• Gender Dysphoria

What happens after making the diagnoses?

After your Owl & Eagle Health and Wellness Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner diagnoses any mental health conditions, they will work with you to develop a holistic treatment plan that can effectively alleviate your symptoms. Treatment plans may include:

• Psychiatric Medication Management

• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

• Individual Psychotherapy

• Group Psychotherapy

• Ketamine Assisted Therapy

• Gender Affirming Care

• Hormone Therapy

• Metabolic Health

• Weight Management

• Stress Management

• Nutrition Counseling

• Exercise Planning

• Vitamins

• Supplements

• Meditation

• Breathwork

• Yoga

Your Owl & Eagle Health and Wellness psychiatric nurse practitioner will meet with you regularly for follow up via video visits or in person to ensure that your psychiatric treatment plan effectively manages your condition and improves your mental health. They can also provide referrals to other Owl & Eagle providers for additional services like psychotherapy, and/or provide outside referrals for highly specialized services such as sleep studies, Intensive Outpatient Therapy, or ECT. They will be happy to collaborate with your primary care provider or other medical specialists as well. The Owl & Eagle Health and Wellness team is here to help you every step of the way.

If you are interested in a Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation at Owl & Eagle Health and Wellness in Golden or Greenwood Village, Colorado, Contact Us with questions or Book Now to schedule an in-person or telehealth appointment today.