Psychiatric Evaluations
We provide psychiatric services covering Bellingham, Whatcom County, and Skagit County areas providing Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (ARNP) for psychiatric evaluations, as well as medication management and medication training and administration for clients. We integrate our psychiatric services with our counseling and complimentary services to provide you with a uniquely comprehensive selection of health treatment options and expert guidance.
Our clinical policy is for a psychiatric provider to do our new client intakes. This provides a higher standard of care and is consistent with medical practice. It helps our counselors have confidence that they are working only on behavioral issues, helps referring PCPs feel confident that their patient is getting a high standard of care, and helps you by properly identifying your issue and how to correctly treat it.
Counselors are amazing at working with behavioral issues, but it is not within their scope of practice to diagnose medical issues. Unfortunately, there are a significant number of medical issues that can appear as a behavioral issue, both to yourself and to your counselor. Without a proper psychiatric evaluation, these issues may be missed and become worse, and (sometimes extensive) therapy may not be as effective.
Some examples of missed diagnosis include;
Bipolar disorder
This disorder involves periods of intense lows, as well as highs. While in a lows phase, those with bipolar disorder can have the same symptoms seen in depression. They might feel hopeless, worthless, or suicidal.
Hypothyroidism
This is a condition wherein the thyroid gland is not functioning correctly to release a sufficient amount of hormones. These hormones are necessary for the brain and body to function, and those with this disorder often experience fatigue, poor concentration, and low moods — which are all characteristics of depression.
Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes often occurs without the person recognizing it. They suddenly find themselves losing weight, becoming irritable, and feeling fatigued. Since these symptoms are also associated with depression, they may fail to realize that their body is having issues with insulin. Insulin resistance, a precursor to Type 2 diabetes, has been significantly linked to depression.
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Also called myalgic encephalomyelitis, or 'systemic exertion intolerance disease', it is characterized by extreme fatigue without apparent cause. Chronic fatigue syndrome can involve difficulty concentrating, sleep issues, and muscle pain — all symptoms associated with depression, which is why people with this condition are so frequently misdiagnosed.
Other examples include;
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Immune System issues
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Endocrine System issues
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Dietary issues
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Pathogens & Toxins
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Clostridium Difficile
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Brain Development Issues
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Medication conflicts
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Central Nervous System Pathologies
If you have not yet had your evaluation you can do so by contacting our office staff and setting up an appointment.
Our psychiatric services providers are carefully selected for their extensive medical experience working in the mental health field, as well as their skills and compassionate approaches. At King Health you aren't seeing an isolated prescriber who you need to update to keep them relevant. Our psychiatric service providers form an integrated part of your team, on staff and in the office, engaged daily with other members of your health team, your therapists, or alternative health practitioners, to ensure that your medication treatment is right for you, no matter what stage of healing you are at, for the best possible outcome.
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