Assessment Process at Fairfax Hospital
Fairfax Behavioral Health offers no-cost on-site assessments in the Seattle metro area to determine the level of care and type of service that best fits you or your loved one. Learn more about the assessment process, including when to schedule it and how long it usually takes.
Serving the Seattle Metropolitan Area
The admissions process begins with an assessment. Ideally, you or your loved one can schedule an appointment by calling our intake team at 425-284-8300.
However, you are also welcome to drop in. We can accommodate and schedule same-day mental health assessments. The assessment takes about an hour and is conducted by a licensed clinician. During the assessment, your family history, current and past health, employment, medications, previous treatments, legal concerns, trauma and triggers and more are documented to ensure that you are placed with the most appropriate group and services. Be prepared to enter group therapy within 72 hours after the assessment process. If you are unable to do this, you will be required to complete a brief update – even if nothing has changed – for insurance purposes. Please remember, our team is here to help you with insurance qualifications, medical leave and address any scheduling issues that you may have prior to entering the program. Our admission team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to take your call.
What is an assessment?
Fairfax Health provides no cost on-site assessments in the Seattle metro area. Our goal during this process is for you to feel comfortable and informed. During the assessment, a Mental Health Professional (MHP) will ask you about the concerns you are currently having as well as questions about your past medical and psychiatric history. If applicable, any drug and / or alcohol abuse will be addressed as well. Additionally, a medical screening will be provided. An assessment helps our team to efficiently and effectively evaluate how you are feeling emotionally and physically so that we can identify the program and services which best meet your needs. Feel free to bring a family member or friend, as this may be helpful for support and assist in the assessment process.
This assessment is not a psychiatric evaluation. Rather, it is to determine what level of care you need to receive or whether some other type of service is needed. Once the on-site assessment is complete, our Intake, Assessment & Referral staff will discuss the results with you and then make a determination about what services you require.
When do I schedule an assessment?
If you are having difficulty at school, work or home due to mental health or substance abuse issues, call today. These issues may include Anxiety / Panic, Depression, Drug / Alcohol abuse, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, Suicidal / homicidal thoughts, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Obsessive Compulsivity, and other challenges.
How long do assessments take?
The time frame for an assessment varies, depending on your unique situation. In most situations, you should expect an assessment to take 30-45 minutes. If it is determined that hospitalization is the best course of treatment, 1.5 to 3 hours for the admission process should be expected. This can be impacted by the number of people seeking services, similar to an Emergency Department.
