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Psychiatric Evaluation

Weston, FL | Telehealth Across FL

Request an appointment with Dr. Betterly

As a board-certified psychiatrist and a medical doctor, Dr. Holly Betterly MD is an expert in psychiatric evaluations. She offers longer appointments in order to facilitate thorough assessments that get to the root of your mental health symptoms, resulting in a precise psychiatric diagnosis.

Dr. Betterly provides evidence-based care, helping her patients to discover treatment options that are research-proven to be effective for their specific psychiatric diagnosis.

Learn more about Dr. Betterly

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In-person appointments in Weston, FL

Telehealth visits across FL

Insurance accepted:
In-Network for Aetna + Cigna

Weston Office Location

1825 Main Street, Suite 16
Weston, FL 33326

Conveniently located in
Weston Town Center

How do I get diagnosed?

What is a psychiatric diagnosis?

If you’ve been struggling with mental health challenges, you may be eager to figure out the cause of the problems that you are experiencing. Diagnosis is the process of determining which specific psychiatric condition best explains your signs and symptoms.

Some common examples of psychiatric diagnoses include depression, anxiety, and OCD. Getting a diagnosis is the first step towards finding an effective treatment to help you feel better.

Learn more about
common psychiatric diagnoses:

Depression

Anxiety

OCD

Who can provide a psychiatric diagnosis?

The specific types of mental health professionals licensed to provide a psychiatric diagnosis is often determined by state law, and varies from one state to another. In general, psychiatrists and psychologists have the ability to provide a diagnosis.

If you are interested in exploring prescription medications for your mental health concerns, a board-certified psychiatrist is the best option. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who are licensed to prescribe medications. They are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions.

A Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation is the process through which a psychiatrist determines a psychiatric diagnosis.

Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation

A Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation takes place during your first visit with Dr. Holly Betterly.
This appointment may take place either in-person in the Weston office, or via telemedicine.

Dr. Holly Betterly dedicates 90 minutes for each of her psychiatric evaluation appointments, significantly longer than the typical 45 to 60 minute appointments found at other practices.

Longer appointments allow more time for getting to the root of your mental health concerns, facilitating a precise diagnosis. They also facilitate meaningful conversations, which helps her to get to know you as a unique individual.

During your psychiatric evaluation, Dr. Betterly will ask lots of questions to get to know you, your background, and your current mental health concerns.

This may include:

Checking your vital signs, such as your heart rate and blood pressure.
Questions about your current and past mental health concerns.
Questions about various aspects of your daily functioning, such as your sleep patterns, appetite, and energy levels, your performance at work or school, or your social relationships.
Screening questions to identify symptoms of various different psychiatric conditions
Questions about your medical history, such as your medical conditions, medications, allergies, and any surgical procedures you may have had
Questions about your family’s medical history
Questions about your mental health history, including any past diagnoses or treatments, such as medications or therapy
Questions about current or past drug or alcohol use
Questions about various aspects of your background, such as developmental milestones, childhood, education, employment, living situation, relationships, religion, and traumatic events or abuse.

She may also administer screening tools or instruments aimed at taking a closer look at specific symptoms and the ways that they may be impacting you. This can help to assess for the presence of specific mental health conditions, as well as to provide an objective measure of symptom severity via numerical score.

After Dr. Betterly has finished gathering all of the information that she needs, she will consider all of the different potential causes for the mental health symptoms that you are experiencing in order to provide you with a diagnosis. She considers whether the symptoms that you are experiencing meet the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for a specific mental health condition.

In some cases, she may need to obtain additional information before she can provide a diagnosis. This may include blood tests, imaging, or referrals to medical specialists, such as a neurologist. It may also include a referral to a psychologist for the administration of formal psychological testing measures.

Once a diagnosis has been made, Dr. Holly Betterly will provide an overview of all of the available treatment options, which may include prescription medications, therapy, or lifestyle modifications. Together you will develop a treatment plan tailored to your goals and preferences.

Follow Up Visits

After your first visit, you will continue to see Dr. Betterly on a regular basis for continued care. The frequency of follow up visits depends on you and your specific treatment plan. Most patients return for their first follow up visit after about one month, but this varies from one person to the next.

At this visit, Dr. Betterly will check in with you about how you are feeling, any changes that you have noticed in your symptoms, and how you are responding to your treatment. She may have you repeat the tools or instruments that you completed during your initial visit in order to compare the scores, providing an objective measure of progress. If you are prescribed medications, she will closely monitor for side effects or any need for adjustments. She will also ask about any changes in your health. Together you will discuss any changes to the treatment plan, and schedule your next visit.

Learn more about mental health conditions & treatments

Dr. Holly Betterly is committed to helping her patients to understand their mental health conditions, encouraging them to play an active role in their psychiatric care. She empowers her patients with the knowledge and expertise that she has gained through over a decade of training.

She maintains a mental health education blog, Better Together, which features articles on timely topics in psychiatry, as well as answers to your mental health questions- straight from a trusted psychiatrist!

Check out some of Dr. Betterly’s latest articles:

Better Together Blog | Timely Topics in Mental Health & Psychiatry

Which medications are used to treat Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

If you’re struggling with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), you may be wondering about what medication options are available. Dr. Holly Betterly MD, Board-Certified Psychiatrist in Weston, FL, provides an overview of GAD and the medications used to treat it.

Caffeine and Mental Health: Spilling the Beans

Despite how commonplace coffee-drinking has become in our society, it may still come as a surprise that caffeine is actually the most widely consumed psychoactive substance in the world. Dr. Holly Betterly MD, Board-Certified Psychiatrist in Weston, FL, spills the beans on how your coffee habit could be impacting your mental health.

How is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Diagnosed?

If you feel that OCD may be impacting your life, you may be curious about how OCD is formally diagnosed. Dr. Holly Betterly MD, Board-Certified Psychiatrist, provides an overview of the diagnostic process for OCD, including some common instruments used by mental health professionals.

Where can I find trustworthy information about OCD?

When it comes to learning about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), or any other mental health condition, it’s important to make sure that you are getting your information from somewhere you can rely on. Dr. Holly Betterly MD, Board-Certified Psychiatrist in Weston, FL, shares some of her favorite evidence based resources for learning about OCD.

Why isn’t my antidepressant working?

You’ve taken the first step towards treating your depression by starting an antidepressant medication- but nothing seems to be happening. What gives? Dr. Holly Betterly MD, Board-Certified Psychiatrist in Weston, FL, shares some common reasons why you may not be seeing the results you’re hoping for.

How Your Thyroid Could Be Hurting Your Mental Health

You may be familiar with your thyroid’s role in metabolism- but did you know that it can also have a significant impact on your mental health? Dr. Holly Betterly MD, Board-Certified Psychiatrist in Weston, FL, explains how your thyroid could be to blame for common mental health challenges.

Navigating antidepressants and sexual side effects

When it comes to antidepressant medications, many patients worry that they will be forced to choose between treating their depression and maintaining a healthy, satisfying sex life. Dr. Holly Betterly MD, Board-Certified Psychiatrist in Weston, FL, provides insight into navigating the relationship between antidepressants and sexual dysfunction so that achieving recovery doesn’t have to feel like a trade-off.

Tax Anxiety, or Something More Serious?

Tax filing season can bring up feelings of anxiety, distress, and dread- but when does tax anxiety become something more serious? Dr. Holly Betterly MD, Board-Certified Psychiatrist in Weston, FL, shares some signs that your tax anxiety could be representative of an underlying mental health condition.

What is a psychiatrist?

Psychiatrist are medical doctors who specialize in treating psychiatric conditions like depression, anxiety, and OCD. They have extensive expertise in prescribing mental health medications. Learn more from Dr. Betterly, board-certified psychiatrist in Weston, FL.

What is the best medication for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?

If you're experiencing Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), you may be wondering about the best medication options for treatment. Dr. Holly Betterly MD, Board-Certified Psychiatrist in Weston, FL and member of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), sheds some light on medication options in OCD.

How do I know if my antidepressant is working?

How do I know if my antidepressant is working? Dr. Holly Betterly, board-certified psychiatrist in Weston, FL, shares some common signs that your antidepressant is actually doing what it is supposed to be doing.

Is my antidepressant causing weight gain?

Is my antidepressant causing weight gain? Dr. Holly Betterly, board-certified psychiatrist in Weston, FL, weighs in on the complex relationship between depression, antidepressants, and weight.

The Mental Health Benefits of Pilates

Pilates is a century old practice that has enjoyed a recent resurgence in popularity. Dr. Holly Betterly, board-certified psychiatrist in Weston, FL, shares some of the ways that pilates can benefit your mental health.

Wellness Activities in Weston, FL | Dr. Betterly’s Top Local Picks

If you are struggling with mental health challenges, getting out of the house can be a great way to boost your mood. Dr. Holly Betterly, board-certified psychiatrist in Weston, FL, shares her top local wellness activity picks!