Two to three days, one prescribed plan.

A comprehensive psychiatric assessment at The Stepwell Center includes a clinical interview, qEEG brain mapping, pharmacogenetic testing, a neurofeedback baseline, and standardized psychological testing, completed across two to three days. The integrated output is one written treatment plan that names your starting level of care, modality mix, and any medication targets. The clinical interview follows APA practice guidelines for psychiatric assessment; the other four inputs add layers that the interview alone cannot supply.

The comprehensive assessment runs two to three days, and same-day or next-day admission applies to the assessment itself. Placement in a treatment program is decided after the assessment is complete, when your care team writes your prescribed care plan from the integrated data.

Quantitative EEG is an established clinical tool used as a complement to other diagnostic evaluations in neuropsychiatric care. At Stepwell, the qEEG is one of four diagnostic instruments that inform your prescribed plan, not a standalone diagnosis; the map supports medication targeting and sets the starting parameters for neurofeedback when neurofeedback enters your plan.

Pharmacogenetic testing identifies how your body metabolizes specific psychiatric medications and can narrow first-trial selection rather than relying on a wait-and-see cycle. The FDA's pharmacogenomic biomarkers table cites CYP2D6 across 73 drugs, and CYP2D6 or CYP2C19 appears on the labels of more than ten antidepressants. At Stepwell, the pharmacogenetic result is one of the inputs your prescriber reviews before any medication recommendation.

Pharmacogenetic testing cost depends on your insurance carrier and plan, and we verify benefits before any testing is performed. For an estimate specific to your coverage, call us at 512.743.9285 and we will walk you through what your plan covers and what, if anything, is out of pocket.

EEG neurofeedback produces a small-to-medium improvement in sustained attention across randomized controlled trials for ADHD, with additional evidence for anxiety symptom reduction. At Stepwell, the neurofeedback baseline recorded during the assessment is the reference point if neurofeedback enters your treatment plan, and it is used alongside CBT, EMDR, and DBT during your level of care, not as a standalone treatment.

You do not need a referral to begin the comprehensive assessment. Call 512.743.9285 or submit an inquiry through the website, and we will schedule your assessment for the same day or the next day where clinically appropriate. Insurance verification runs in parallel with the initial screening.

A standard psychiatric evaluation is a clinical interview with a single psychiatrist, usually completed in one appointment. The comprehensive assessment at The Stepwell Center runs two to three days and adds qEEG, pharmacogenetic testing, a neurofeedback baseline, and standardized psychological testing to that interview, then integrates the five inputs into one written treatment plan. The interview alone is appropriate for many patients; the comprehensive program is appropriate when prior medication trials have not delivered relief, when stepping down from inpatient care, or when families want a second opinion before placement.