Josie Desmarais, PMHNP-BC 
What Is the TOVA Test for ADHD? Reviewed by Josie Desmarais, PMHNP-BC · Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner · Last updated August 2026 The TOVA — Test of Variables of Attention — is an FDA-cleared, computerized assessment used to measure attention and impulse control in adults and children being evaluated for ADHD. It takes about … Read more
How to Prepare for Your First Psychiatry Appointment Reviewed by Josie Desmarais, PMHNP-BC · Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner · Last updated August 2026 Bring your insurance card, photo ID, a current medication list (including supplements), and a brief written timeline of your symptoms. Expect a 30-60 minute initial evaluation that is conversational, not a … Read more
How to Get Suboxone Same Day Reviewed by Josie Desmarais, PMHNP-BC · Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner · Last updated August 2026 Yes — same-day Suboxone is possible. If you’re in withdrawal right now, you do not have to wait a week for an intake appointment. Telehealth MAT clinics, low-barrier community programs, and emergency department … Read more
How Much Does Suboxone Cost Without Insurance? Reviewed by Josie Desmarais, PMHNP-BC · Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner · Last updated August 2026 Brand-name Suboxone without insurance runs $400–$600 per month. Generic buprenorphine/naloxone — pharmacologically identical — typically costs $30–$80 per month. With GoodRx or Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs, it can drop to $15–$45. … Read more
How Much Does a Psychiatric Evaluation Cost? Reviewed by Josie Desmarais, PMHNP-BC · Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner · Last updated August 2026 A psychiatric evaluation costs between $200 and $500 out of pocket for an initial appointment — though if you have in-network insurance, your cost is typically a $20 to $60 specialist copay. … Read more
How Long Does a Psychiatric Evaluation Take? Reviewed by Josie Desmarais, PMHNP-BC · Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner · Last updated August 2026 A psychiatric evaluation takes 60 to 90 minutes for an initial appointment. Follow-up visits are shorter — typically 30 to 45 minutes, depending on what is being addressed. That length reflects the … Read more
Depression vs. Bipolar Disorder: How to Tell the Difference Reviewed by Josie Desmarais, PMHNP-BC · Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner · Last updated August 2026 Depression and bipolar disorder share many of the same symptoms — low mood, fatigue, sleep disruption, difficulty functioning. The core difference is this: depression affects mood in one direction (low), … Read more
ADHD in Adults: Signs You Were Never Diagnosed as a Kid Reviewed by Josie Desmarais, PMHNP-BC · Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner · Last updated August 2026 A significant percentage of adults with ADHD were never diagnosed in childhood — particularly women, high-IQ adults, and anyone who learned to mask their symptoms through extra effort. … Read more
Cortisol and Belly Fat: What Chronic Stress Does to Your Body Reviewed by Josie Desmarais, PMHNP-BC · Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner · Last updated August 2026 Chronic stress raises cortisol, and elevated cortisol — particularly when it stays high day after day — drives the body to store fat preferentially in the abdomen. This … Read more
Burnout vs. Depression: How to Tell the Difference Reviewed by Josie Desmarais, PMHNP-BC · Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner · Last updated August 2026 Burnout and depression share enough symptoms to be genuinely confusing — exhaustion, low motivation, difficulty concentrating, emotional flatness. The core difference is context and persistence: burnout is driven by chronic stress … Read more