Psychiatric Evaluation & Medication Management in Fair Lawn, NJ

Many people begin their search by looking for a psychiatrist. What most are really looking for is a careful assessment of what they are going through and, when it would help, medication that is prescribed and followed closely. At Nova, psychiatric care is overseen by a psychiatrist (MD). Day to day, it is led by our Director of Medical Services, a board-certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP-BC) who evaluates, prescribes and monitors medication when it is appropriate.

Psychiatric care can be part of your plan in any Nova program: Adult Partial Care, the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), Evening IOP and our Outpatient Program. Medication is never required. Some people use it for a while, some long term, and some do not use it at all. That decision is made with you.

A psychiatric evaluation is a conversation, not a test you can pass or fail. It usually covers:

• What brought you in: the symptoms you are noticing, when they started and how they affect work, relationships, sleep and daily life.
• Your history: past treatment, past diagnoses, and what has and has not helped before.
• Current medications and health: prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, supplements, and any medical conditions that matter for treatment.
• Safety and support: how you are coping right now and who is in your corner.
• Your goals: what you want to feel or do differently.

At the end, you will talk through what the evaluation shows, whether medication may help, and how it fits with the therapy part of your plan. It helps to bring a list of your current medications and any recent records you have.

Starting a medication is the beginning of the process, not the end. Medication management means regular follow-up so treatment stays safe and effective:

• Checking how you are responding and whether symptoms are improving
• Watching for side effects and addressing them early
• Adjusting the dose or the medication when needed
• Reviewing any new prescriptions or health changes
• Sharing updates with your therapist so your whole plan moves together

Because your therapist and the professional managing your medication share one plan, changes in how you are feeling are noticed and acted on sooner.

For most mental health conditions, medication combined with therapy works better than either one alone. At Nova, psychiatric care sits inside a full program of individual therapy, group therapy and skills-based approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).

How much support you start with depends on how you are doing right now:

• Adult Partial Care: a structured day program, five days a week, for adults who need more support than weekly therapy can give.
• IOP and Evening IOP: several sessions each week, including an evening option for adults who work or go to school.
• Outpatient: ongoing therapy on a lighter schedule, including for adults stepping down from a more intensive program.

Not sure which fits? Compare Partial Care, IOP and Outpatient, or take our free mental health self-assessment.

Psychiatric evaluation and medication management are part of care for adults living with:

• Depression
• Anxiety disorders
• Bipolar disorder
• Adult ADHD
• Trauma and PTSD
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Mood disorders
• Personality disorders

Nova is located at 22-08 Route 208, Suite 2, in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, with its own signed entrance and free on-site parking. Adults come to Nova from Fair Lawn and towns across Bergen County, including Paramus, Ridgewood, Wyckoff, Glen Rock, Saddle Brook and Elmwood Park.

1. Call (551) 733-2282. A member of our admissions team answers and listens to what is going on.
2. We check your insurance. Admissions reviews your benefits and explains what your plan covers before you start. You can also verify your insurance online.
3. Your evaluation. You meet with our clinical team, and a psychiatric evaluation is included when your plan calls for one.
4. Your plan begins. You start the program that fits, with therapy and, if it helps, medication managed alongside it.

Read more about admissions or what to expect from a mental health assessment.

Does Nova have a psychiatrist?

Yes. A psychiatrist (MD) oversees psychiatric care at Nova. Your evaluation and medication visits are with our board-certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP-BC), an advanced practice nurse with specialized training in psychiatry who evaluates, diagnoses and prescribes medication for mental health conditions.

Do I have to take medication?

No. Medication is one option, never a requirement. Your evaluation looks at whether it may help, and the decision is made with you. Some people are treated with therapy alone.

Can I keep the medication I already take?

Bring a list of everything you currently take. Our team reviews it during your evaluation and talks with you about whether anything should stay the same or change.

Will my insurance cover psychiatric care?

Coverage depends on your plan. Our admissions team checks your benefits and explains what your plan covers before you start. You can also verify your insurance online.

Who does Nova treat?

Nova’s programs are for adults 18 and older in Fair Lawn and across Bergen County.

If you are in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or call 911.