What a psychiatric evaluation actually is
A psychiatric diagnostic evaluation is a structured conversation, plus a few standardized screening tools, aimed at answering three questions: what is going on for your teen right now, what is contributing to it, and what would actually help. It is not a test they can fail. It is not a label being handed down. It is a careful clinical picture, written up so the right people can act on it.
What we cover
- Current symptoms — mood, anxiety, sleep, focus, thoughts of self-harm, substance use.
- History — developmental milestones, medical history, trauma exposure, family patterns.
- School, relationships, and daily functioning.
- Standardized screenings for anxiety, depression, ADHD, and (when indicated) psychosis or trauma.
- A mental status exam — a structured observation of how your teen is presenting today.
How long it takes
Most evaluations are 60–90 minutes, sometimes split across two visits. Complex cases — long trauma history, custody involvement, court-ordered questions to answer — may need more time. You’ll know up front.
Court-involved and adjudicated youth
When a teen is involved with the juvenile justice system, an evaluation may need to coordinate with attorneys, DCFS or JJS caseworkers, and (for youth on psychotropic medication in custody) Utah’s psychotropic oversight process. That coordination is routine clinical work — the evaluation itself is still a caring conversation with your teen, not an interrogation.
What you get at the end
A written clinical summary you can share with your teen’s pediatrician, therapist, school, or attorney: diagnoses (if any), the reasoning behind them, and clear recommendations. If medication is part of the plan, we discuss options, risks, and alternatives together — nothing is decided without you.
How to help your teen show up
Tell them the truth: this is a conversation with someone whose job is to understand, not judge. There are no trick questions. They can say “I don’t want to answer that” and it is honored. The more honest they can be, the more useful the plan will be for them.