Stedfast Psychiatry's Palm Beach Gardens office at 11641 Kew Gardens Ave, Suite 209 has 5 prescribing providers under psychiatrist oversight. A new-patient evaluation takes about an hour, in person or by video, and ends with a diagnosis and a written plan. Most major insurance and Medicare accepted; new patients call (561) 437-2199.
Psychiatrist at our Palm Beach Gardens office
If you live near The Gardens Mall or in Mirasol, Frenchman's Creek, Frenchman's Reserve and Evergrene, this is your closest Stedfast Psychiatry office for psychiatrist. We also see residents of Juno Beach, Jupiter, Lake Park and Riviera Beach who prefer not to drive farther.
Call (561) 437-2199 to book, or request an appointment online and we will call you back. The office is open weekdays 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The office is just south of PGA Boulevard near Military Trail, a short drive from The Gardens Mall. From I-95, take exit 79 for PGA Boulevard and head east to Military Trail, then turn south and watch for Kew Gardens Avenue on your left.
Both Deep TMS and Spravato are delivered on site at this office, so a patient who does not respond to medication can move to an interventional option without changing clinics.
Who you will see in Palm Beach Gardens
The Palm Beach Gardens team includes psychiatrists Dr. Louis Velazquez and Dr. Tanya Peguero Estevez, psychiatric nurse practitioner Sophia Schulman and physician assistant Ellington Curtis. Visits in Spanish are available with Tanya Peguero Estevez. Children and teens are seen by Louis Velazquez, Sophia Schulman, Ellington Curtis and Stephanie Mills.
Dr. Louis Velazquez, MD
Psychiatrist · Ages 4 to 80
Sophia Schulman, PMHNP-BC
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner · Children 7+, adolescents and adults
Ellington Curtis, PA-C
Physician Assistant · Adults and teens 14+
Dr. Tanya Peguero Estevez, MD
Psychiatrist · Adults 18+ · English, Spanish
Stephanie Mills
Clinician · Adults and teens 13+
How psychiatrist works
The visit is built around a structured clinical interview, the same method used in academic psychiatry. Your provider asks about your current symptoms, when they began, what makes them better or worse, and how they affect sleep, appetite, energy, concentration, relationships and work. We take a full psychiatric history (prior diagnoses, medications tried and their doses, hospitalizations, therapy), a medical history, a family history, and a substance use history. We ask about safety directly and without judgment.
Before or during the visit you complete validated screening scales. The PHQ-9 measures depression severity, the GAD-7 measures anxiety, the ASRS screens for adult ADHD, the MDQ screens for bipolar spectrum symptoms, and the PCL-5 screens for post-traumatic stress disorder. These are not the diagnosis; they are a baseline we will repeat at later visits to measure change objectively. Where a scale and your story disagree, the story wins and we ask more questions.
We also look for medical contributors. Thyroid disease, anemia, vitamin B12 or D deficiency, sleep apnea, and some medications can mimic depression, anxiety or inattention. If you have not had recent labs, we may order a basic panel (TSH, CBC, metabolic panel, B12, vitamin D) or request results from your primary care physician. With your permission we request prior psychiatric records so we are not repeating treatments that already failed. The visit ends with a diagnosis (or a short list of possibilities to clarify), a plan that may include medication, therapy, labs or a referral, and a scheduled follow-up.
Who it is for
An evaluation is for anyone who thinks something is wrong and wants a clear answer. That includes adults who have never seen a psychiatrist, people who have been treated before and did not get better, and patients referred by a primary care physician, therapist, OB/GYN or employer. We see children and adolescents as well, with the minimum age set by the individual provider (some see patients from age four).
You do not need a referral to book, and you do not need to know what is wrong before you call. Common reasons people come to us include low mood that will not lift, worry that interferes with sleep or work, trouble focusing, panic attacks, irritability, grief that has stalled, trauma reactions, and side effects or poor response from a medication prescribed elsewhere. If you are unsure whether a psychiatrist or a therapist is the right first stop, the evaluation sorts that out: our providers can prescribe, refer for therapy, or both.
About 23 percent of US adults (59 million people) lived with a mental illness in 2022, and fewer than half received treatment in the past year.
Source: NIMH, National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2022
The PHQ-9 has a sensitivity of 88 percent and a specificity of 88 percent for major depression at a cutoff of 10.
Source: Kroenke, Spitzer and Williams, Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2001
Roughly one third of patients reach remission on their first antidepressant, which is why an accurate starting diagnosis and measured follow-up matter.
Source: STAR*D trial, National Institute of Mental Health
Mental health conditions are among the leading causes of disability in the United States, accounting for a large share of years lived with disability.
Source: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Global Burden of Disease
What to expect at your first visit
Plan on 60 minutes for a new-patient evaluation, in person at any of our 13 offices or by secure video for Florida and South Carolina residents. You will receive intake forms and the screening scales through the patient portal ahead of time; completing them before the visit leaves more time for conversation. Bring a list of current medications and supplements with doses, the names of past psychiatric medications if you remember them, and any recent lab results.
If the plan includes medication, a prescription is usually sent the same day, with a follow-up scheduled in two to four weeks to check response and side effects. If the plan includes therapy, we schedule it with one of our therapists or coordinate with yours. Some diagnoses, especially bipolar disorder and ADHD, may require a second visit, collateral information from a family member, or prior records before medication is started. We will tell you that plainly rather than guess.
Cost and insurance in Palm Beach Gardens
Stedfast Psychiatry accepts most major commercial insurance plans and Medicare. A new-patient evaluation is billed as an outpatient psychiatric diagnostic visit, and your cost depends on your copay, deductible and whether behavioral health is carved out to a separate network under your plan. Our front desk verifies benefits before the visit and tells you what to expect.
If you are uninsured, out of network, or prefer not to use insurance, the self-pay rate for a new-patient visit is $185. Follow-up visits are billed at a lower rate. Labs are billed separately by the laboratory and are usually covered as routine bloodwork. Some insurers require a referral from a primary care physician for specialist visits; check your plan or ask us and we will help.
Full details, risks and research are on the main Psychiatric Evaluation and Diagnosis page.
Emergency and crisis resources near Palm Beach Gardens
In an emergency, call 911 or go to Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center Emergency Room (3360 Burns Rd, Palm Beach Gardens). The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available by call or text 24 hours a day. Jupiter Medical Center Emergency Department and 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline are also listed on the Palm Beach Gardens office page.
Frequently asked questions
Who provides psychiatrist at the Palm Beach Gardens office?
The Palm Beach Gardens team includes psychiatrists Dr. Louis Velazquez and Dr. Tanya Peguero Estevez, psychiatric nurse practitioner Sophia Schulman and physician assistant Ellington Curtis. Visits in Spanish are available with Tanya Peguero Estevez. Every provider works under psychiatrist oversight and the same evaluation standard: about an hour for a first visit, validated screening scales, and a written plan.
Can I be seen by video instead of coming to Palm Beach Gardens?
Yes. Stedfast Psychiatry providers are licensed in Florida and offer video visits for evaluations and follow-ups. Some situations, including certain controlled-substance prescriptions and first visits for young children, require an in-person appointment at 11641 Kew Gardens Ave.
Does the Palm Beach Gardens office take my insurance?
We accept most major commercial plans and Medicare. Call (561) 437-2199 with your member ID and we will verify benefits before the visit. Self-pay new-patient evaluations are $185.
How soon can a new patient be seen in Palm Beach Gardens?
Most new patients are scheduled within one to two weeks. If you need to be seen sooner, ask about a video visit; those often open up within days. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 or go to the nearest emergency room rather than waiting.
Can I get Deep TMS or Spravato as a Palm Beach Gardens patient?
Yes. Deep TMS is delivered on site in Palm Beach Gardens. Spravato is available at Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Beach Gardens and Royal Palm Beach.
How long is a new-patient psychiatric evaluation?
Sixty minutes. The time is divided between your story, a structured review of symptoms and history, the screening scales, and the plan. Children and adolescents often need a little longer because we speak with the parent and the child separately. Follow-up medication visits are shorter, typically 20 to 30 minutes, and therapy sessions are 45 to 55 minutes.
Do I need a referral to see a psychiatrist at Stedfast?
No. You can call or book online directly. Some insurance plans, especially HMOs, require a referral from your primary care physician before they will cover a specialist visit. We check that when we verify your benefits and will tell you if a referral is needed. Medicare does not require a referral for outpatient psychiatry.
What do the screening scales actually tell you?
They put a number on severity so we can track change. The PHQ-9 scores depression from 0 to 27, the GAD-7 scores anxiety from 0 to 21, the ASRS flags adult ADHD symptoms, the MDQ flags a possible bipolar spectrum history, and the PCL-5 measures PTSD symptoms. None of them diagnoses anything alone. Your provider uses them alongside the interview, and we repeat them at follow-ups to see whether treatment is working.
Nearby Stedfast offices
If you are in crisis, call or text 988 or go to the nearest emergency room. Educational content; individual results vary. Reviewed by Dr. David Husted, board-certified psychiatrist.