By Tannia Salazar, APRN – Rooted in Serenity Behavioral Health LLC
Telehealth across Connecticut + in-person Tuesdays in Middlebury

✨ Rooted in Care. Grounded in Calm. Focused on Your Healing.

Starting psychiatric care can feel like a big step — especially if it’s your first time meeting with a psychiatric provider. Whether you’re feeling anxious, exhausted, or simply ready for things to get better, this first visit is where we start making sense of what’s been happening and build a plan that fits your life.

A Calm, Supportive Beginning

Our first session is about understanding you — not rushing to a diagnosis or prescription. I’ll ask about what’s been challenging, what’s helped in the past, and how your symptoms are affecting your daily life. We’ll talk about your medical history, current medications or supplements, and any past experiences with therapy or psychiatry.

You’re welcome to share as much or as little as you feel comfortable with. My goal is always to listen first, then guide gently.

What the Evaluation Includes

A psychiatric evaluation is a comprehensive conversation, not a test.
It may include:

Exploring your mood, sleep, focus, and energy levels
Reviewing medical conditions, lab results, and medications
Screening for anxiety, depression, ADHD, or trauma-related symptoms
Discussing your goals — what you want to feel or do differently

This visit typically lasts about 60 minutes via secure telehealth or in person in Middlebury, CT.

If you’re curious about how medications might fit into your plan, my Understanding Antidepressants series offers a gentle, plain-language look at how these medications work — and what to expect if you start one.

Collaborative, Not One-Sided

Together, we’ll decide whether medication, therapy, or lifestyle changes — or a combination — could best support your healing. I’ll explain options, side effects, and expected timelines clearly so you can make an informed choice.

If medication is started, we’ll review what to expect over the next few weeks and schedule a follow-up to check in and make adjustments as needed.

Medication is only one piece of the picture — practices like mindfulness, sleep routines, and nutrition can also support emotional steadiness. You can read more about this in Medication with Mindfulness.

How to Prepare

Before your appointment, you can:

Write down your current medications or supplements
Bring any recent lab results or prior psychiatric notes (if you have them)
Think about what’s been hardest lately — and what you hope will improve

You don’t need to prepare anything formal — just come as you are.

After Your Evaluation

You’ll leave with a clear plan, next steps, and a sense of partnership. Most people start to feel clarity — even relief — after this visit, simply from being heard and having a path forward.

Follow-up appointments are usually scheduled every few weeks at first, then spaced out once things stabilize. Many patients start to notice gradual improvement within the first month of consistent treatment.

To learn more about how ongoing visits work, you can explore Medication Management for Anxiety, Depression, & ADHD.

A Trauma-Informed, Compassionate Approach

At Rooted in Serenity, every evaluation is grounded in respect, curiosity, and care. You deserve to feel safe discussing your story. My goal is to help you find steadiness and relief — without pressure or judgment.

Even when care is delivered virtually, I take a trauma-informed approach that prioritizes your comfort and emotional safety. You can read more about this in Trauma-Informed Telehealth.

Whether we meet virtually from your living room or in person in Middlebury, this is a space to breathe, reflect, and start again.