Mental Health Evaluation: How We Can Help You

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What Is a Court Ordered Mental Health Evaluation?

A court ordered mental health evaluation is a judge or prosecutor ordered or recommended assessment, used to look for clinically significant mental health impairments. These are typically ordered when the legal situation intersects with mental health, and it can be used to gain a better understanding of possible factors related to the legal charge. Evaluations allow a counselor to dive deeper into past experiences, which may have led to the development of mental disorders that may have affected your actions.

Will I need to continue therapy?

Through the evaluation, the clinician may be able to diagnose certain conditions, such as: depression, anxiety, substance abuse disorder, stress disorders [PTSD and ASD], or personality disorders [bipolar disorder, DID, etc.]. The process may sound scary, but it can be quite beneficial. If the clinician is able to diagnose a condition, they may recommend treatment – which courts may accept as an alternative to prison time. In these cases, the court may order therapy sessions or diversion/intervention programs through their system.

What Does It Entail?

The process of getting a mental health evaluation is relatively simple, though timing tends to stretch out over a few days. Once you’ve set up an appointment with one of our providers, we will email you consent forms. These forms should be filled out and either sent back or brought with you to your appointment. During the actual appointment, your provider will spend roughly an hour [timings vary for each person] asking you a lot of questions, pertaining to your life and experiences. The provider will look for symptoms of mental impairment or any other mental factors that may have contributed to your legal situation.

What happens after the evaluation?

Following the appointment, your provider will fill out a detailed report that they will send to the court. Reports consist of a full evaluation of your mental health, as well as any recommended treatments the provider may suggest. These reports take up to five (5) business days to complete, though they may be rush ordered and sent out within a (1) business day for an additional $200. Providers are able to send any revised or follow-up reports at request, for no additional charge.

Where Is It Done?

Mental health evaluations may be completed in person, at one of our offices [Downtown or New Kensington] or virtually. The court system cares that you talk to a provider and does not prefer one method over the other. Additionally, at Makin Wellness, we want you to be as comfortable as possible during the process. Our providers are equally experienced at completing evaluations in person and virtually. Therefore, the assessment should be completed in whatever method you find most comfortable for yourself.

How Much Does It Cost?

Our mental health evaluations cost $399, with an additional $200 fee for rush-ordered assessments. Costs cover the initial meeting and evaluation, any follow up meetings, and any revisions to the evaluation. Unfortunately, we cannot accept insurance for these assessments, as many insurance companies will not pay for mental health assessments. We do, however, accept credit cards, HSA, and FSA.

At Makin Wellness…

Our main priorities are your comfort and well-being. No matter what situation you may find yourself in, we want to help you! We strive to make this process as easy and comfortable as possible. If you would like to schedule a mental health evaluation with one of our providers, send us an email at [email protected] or give us a call at (412) 532–1249.

mental-health-evaluation-author-serena-daywalt
Serena Daywalt
B.A. Psychology Major | Point Park University
Research Psychology Intern | Makin Wellness, Downtown Pittsburgh
Events Coordinator and Advocate | PPU Strong Women, Strong Girls
Mentor and Academic Events Coordinator | PPU Honors Student Organization
Sara Makin MSEd, LPC, NCC

Sara Makin MSEd, LPC, NCC

All articles are written in conjunction with the Makin Wellness research team. The content on this page is not a replacement for professional diagnosis, treatment, or informed advice. It is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before making any decisions or taking action. Please refer to our terms of use for further details.

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