About Us

Clinical Services

     A diagnostic evaluation is performed before any treatment services are given. Psychiatric Evaluation is needed to develop a treatment plan that involves medication. Psychiatric Evaluation may include specific testing of personality or intelligence when needed. The following are some of the clinical services we provide.

For further information or to schedule an appointment, please call our office at (850) 432-1480.

Psychiatric Evaluation:  A psychiatric evaluation is performed by a licensed physician who has also completed at least three years of training in psychiatry. A psychiatric evaluation for an adult consists of an interview to obtain information about emotional or behavioral symptoms as well as medical, psychiatric, and social history. In some cases, family members are also interviewed to help with understanding the patient's symptoms and history. This is followed by a mental status examination where questions are asked about other important symptoms and there are screening tests of thinking and memory. If applicable, a diagnosis is determined, and a treatment plan is proposed. The diagnosis and treatment plan is discussed with the adult patient. The psychiatrist may prescribe a medication to help the emotional or behavioral symptoms if the patient agrees. A psychiatric evaluation for a child or adolescent is similar to the examination for an adult, except that a parent, guardian or child's caretaker is interviewed to obtain information about the patient's symptoms and history. Also, the diagnosis and treatment plan is discussed with the parent, guardian or child's caretaker.    

Psychological Evaluation: A psychological evaluation is performed by a licensed psychologist. A psychological evaluation for an adult consists of an interview to obtain information about emotional or behavioral symptoms as well as any social issues. In some cases, family members are also interviewed to help with understanding the patient's problems. A mental status examination may be given where questions are asked about other important symptoms and there are screening tests of thinking and memory. If applicable, a diagnosis is determined, and a treatment plan is proposed. The diagnosis and treatment plan is discussed with the adult client. If a medication is needed for treatment, the psychologist may refer the client to a physician who may prescribe medication if the client agrees. A psychological evaluation for a child or adolescent is similar to the examination for an adult, except that a parent, guardian or child's caretaker is interviewed to obtain information about the client's symptoms and history. Also, the diagnosis and treatment plan is discussed with the parent, guardian or child's caretaker. 

Psychiatric Testing: Some times, psychological testing can help improve the accuracy of diagnosis or to understand a client's thoughts and relationships. Psychological testing can also provide helpful information for educational planning and job placement. Psychological testing available at Psychological Associates, P.A. includes:

• Intelligence testing
• Academic achievement testing
• Attention span testing
• Personality testing
• Projective testing

 

Individual Psychotherapy: Individual psychotherapy involves one-on-one interaction between a therapist and a client. The therapist may be a psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed social worker, or licensed therapist. During psychotherapy, efforts are made to understand a client's thoughts and feelings that are involved in behaviors and decision making. The psychotherapy also involves helping a client develop more effective strategies to manage stress and emotions, and to make more effective decisions about behaviors.

Interactive Psychotherapy: Interactive psychotherapy involves interaction between a therapist and a client who cannot understand language sufficiently for a verbal psychotherapy to be completely helpful. Play therapy is a type of interactive psychotherapy used with children. There are also specialized interactive psychotherapy techniques to help clients with impairments of language, including autistic individuals.    

Family Psychotherapy: Family psychotherapy involves a therapist meeting with two or more members of a family. Family psychotherapy helps individual family members better understand the thoughts, motivations, feelings, and behaviors of other family members. Communication improves and family members make more effective behavior choices.   

Systems Psychotherapy: Systems psychotherapy involves a therapist meeting with members of a group. The group can be an extended family or can be a group of people working together. Like family psychotherapy, systems psychotherapy helps the individual group members better understand the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of other group members. Strategies are developed to improve communication and the ability of group members to work together.   

Group Psychotherapy: Group psychotherapy involves a therapist meeting with a group of people. Often, the individuals in the group do not know each other before they join the group. During group psychotherapy, clients learn how other people see them, and thus learn to make more effective behavior choises.

Behavior Therapy: Specific strategies are used to help encourage acceptable behaviors and discourage unacceptable behaviors. These strategies may include the use of short term rewards.   

Psychiatric Medication Management: Medications may be prescribed by a psychiatrist to help with mood, attention, or organization of thinking. Florida law and good medical practice dictates that patients on medications should be evaluated by the physician at regular intervals and whenever a change occurs. Medication management visits are 10 to 15 minutes, during which time the psychiatrist reviews the effects of the medication, particularly side effects. Medication adjustments may be made based on the condition of the patient.