The first step is to contact our office to discuss your concerns and the reason you are seeking an evaluation. We will gather some basic information about you or your child, discuss the questions you would like the evaluation to answer, and determine whether our services are a good fit.A referral from another provider is not always necessary. In many cases, individuals or parents can contact us directly to inquire about an evaluation.

Not necessarily. Many evaluations can be scheduled based on a direct request from an individual or parent.For forensic evaluations, the process may be initiated by an attorney, court, agency, or other referring party depending on the circumstances of the case.

You do not need to know exactly what type of evaluation you need before contacting us. During the initial conversation and intake, we will discuss your concerns and the questions you would like the evaluation to answer and help determine what type of assessment is most appropriate.Depending on the referral question, an evaluation may focus on psychological and diagnostic functioning, autism or ADHD, cognitive functioning, learning and academic skills, emotional or behavioral concerns, risk and threat, or other areas of concern. Some evaluations may address more than one of these areas.

A comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation is a specialized assessment of how the brain and nervous system are functioning. It typically involves a detailed examination of multiple areas of cognitive functioning, such as attention, memory, processing speed, language, visuospatial abilities, executive functioning, and other neurocognitive skills. Neuropsychological evaluations are often used to understand the effects of conditions such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, neurological disease, seizures, dementia, or other medical or neurological conditions.We do not provide comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations for brain injuries or neurological conditions. If the primary question involves the effects of a brain injury, neurological disease, or other medical condition on brain functioning, a referral to a neuropsychologist who specializes in these evaluations may be more appropriate.However, many of the concerns that lead people to ask about neuropsychological testing can be appropriately addressed through psychological or diagnostic assessment. Our evaluations can assess areas such as attention, executive functioning, learning and memory, processing speed, intellectual functioning, and academic skills when these areas are relevant to the referral question. For example, when evaluating an individual for ADHD or Autism Spectrum Disorder, we may assess executive functioning, attention, cognitive abilities, learning and memory, and other areas that help us understand the individual's overall profile. These evaluations are designed to answer the specific diagnostic or functional question rather than to provide a comprehensive assessment of brain functioning.If you are unsure whether you need a neuropsychological evaluation or another type of psychological assessment, you do not need to determine that before contacting us. We can discuss the reason for the evaluation and help determine whether our services are appropriate or whether a referral to a neuropsychologist or another specialist would be more appropriate.

Yes. An evaluation can be helpful even when an individual already has a diagnosis. Testing may help confirm or clarify an existing diagnosis, determine whether another condition may better explain current concerns, or provide a more comprehensive understanding of an individual's strengths and areas of difficulty.An evaluation may also be helpful when a previous diagnosis was made several years ago, when concerns have changed over time, or when there are questions about whether the current diagnosis continues to accurately describe the individual's functioning.Often a report can be helpful in gaining needed services or pulling together a lot of information to utilize with treatment providers moving forward.

When you contact our office, we will discuss current availability and, when appropriate, add you to the evaluation waitlist. As openings become available, individuals are contacted based on factors such as the type of evaluation needed, clinician availability, and the order in which individuals were placed on the list.Because different evaluations require different amounts of time and expertise, wait times may vary depending on the type of evaluation being requested.

The intake is an opportunity for us to understand what brings you or your child in for evaluation and what questions you hope the evaluation will answer.During the intake, we typically discuss:Current concerns and symptomsDevelopmental and medical historyEducational and occupational historySocial and family historyPrevious diagnoses, evaluations, or treatmentCurrent medications or services, when relevantStrengths and areas of difficultyThe reason for the evaluationSpecific questions that need to be addressedWe may also request relevant records, such as previous evaluations, IEPs or 504 Plans, school records, medical records, treatment records, or other documentation.For children and adolescents, we typically gather information from parents or caregivers and may also obtain information from teachers, schools, or other providers when appropriate.For forensic evaluations, the intake also focuses on the specific legal referral question, relevant history, available records, and the scope of the evaluation.

Testing varies depending on the reason for the evaluation and the questions being asked.You may complete a combination of interviews, questionnaires, cognitive testing, academic testing, psychological measures, behavioral measures, or other specialized assessments.Some tasks involve answering questions or completing questionnaires, while others involve solving problems, remembering information, reading, writing, or completing other structured activities.There is no need to study or prepare for most psychological testing. The most helpful thing you can do is get a good night's sleep, eat normally, take prescribed medications as usual unless your provider has instructed otherwise, and come prepared to give your best effort.We understand that testing can feel intimidating. We will explain what to expect and provide breaks as needed, particularly when evaluations involve several hours of testing.

If available, it can be helpful to bring or provide copies of previous evaluations, IEPs or 504 Plans, school records, medical or treatment records, and other documentation relevant to the reason for the evaluation.

This depends on the child's age, the type of evaluation, and the testing being completed. Typically older children and adolescents complete the in office portions of the evaluation independently.Parents may be asked to complete questionnaires, provide additional information, or remain available during the appointment in our waiting room. When a parent does not need to be present during testing, we will let you know whether you may leave and return at a scheduled time.

Most evaluations are completed over approximately two months, from the initial scheduling of the intake through the feedback session. The exact timeline may vary depending on the type of evaluation, the individual's needs, scheduling availability, and the complexity of the referral question.The evaluation process typically includes:1. IntakeThe process begins with an intake appointment, where we discuss the reason for the evaluation, relevant history, current concerns, and the questions the evaluation is intended to answer.2. TestingTesting is typically completed over one to two testing sessions. Each session generally lasts between one and four hours, depending on the individual's age, needs, and the type of evaluation. Breaks are provided as needed, and we work to make the testing experience as comfortable and manageable as possible.3. Feedback SessionOnce testing is complete, we review and interpret the results and prepare a comprehensive written report. At the feedback appointment, we meet with you to review the findings, discuss the conclusions and recommendations, and answer questions about the results.4. Written ReportFollowing the feedback session, the completed written report is provided to you. The report summarizes the evaluation findings, diagnostic conclusions when appropriate, and recommendations based on the individual's specific needs.The approximate timeframe allows for scheduling the necessary appointments, completing and scoring the testing, reviewing records and other information, integrating the results, preparing the report, and meeting with you to discuss the findings.

The evaluation does not end with the test scores. During the feedback session, we review the results, explain the conclusions, discuss recommendations, and answer questions about the evaluation. The written report can then be used to help guide treatment, educational planning, accommodations, additional services, or other next steps. You will be able to share the report with relevant professionals such as physicians, therapists, schools, or other providers.Our goal is for you to leave the evaluation with a clearer understanding of the findings and practical recommendations for moving forward.

Insurance coverage varies depending on your insurance plan and the type of evaluation being requested. In general, we work with clients whose insurance plans provide coverage for typical psychodiagnostic evaluations, and we obtain prior authorization when it is required before testing begins.We want you to understand the potential financial responsibility before moving forward. If we determine that your insurance will not fully cover the evaluation, we will discuss the expected costs with you during the intake process so you can decide whether the evaluation is financially feasible for you.It is important to keep in mind that insurance coverage does not necessarily mean that there will be no out-of-pocket cost. Depending on your plan, you may have a copay, coinsurance, or deductible that applies to the evaluation. In some cases, an insurance company cannot provide a definitive estimate of your responsibility until the claim is processed after the services have been provided. For this reason, we encourage you to review your insurance benefits and understand your deductible and other out-of-pocket responsibilities before beginning testing.Educational evaluations, forensic evaluations, and certain specialized assessments may not be covered by insurance and may be offered on a private-pay basis.Our office will provide information about the services being recommended and any known costs or insurance requirements so that you can make an informed decision about proceeding.Please remember that insurance companies determine coverage and patient responsibility. While we can assist with authorization and verify available benefits, we cannot guarantee that your insurance company will ultimately cover a particular service or that there will be no out-of-pocket expense.

Yes. We accept referrals from attorneys for forensic psychological evaluations and consultation. Our forensic work focuses on psychological questions that can be informed by comprehensive assessment of an individual's cognitive, emotional, behavioral, academic, developmental, and psychological functioning. Depending on the referral question, this may include diagnostic clarification, cognitive or educational functioning, psychological or behavioral concerns, risk and threat assessment, and other psychological questions relevant to a legal proceeding.Attorneys are welcome to contact our office to discuss a potential referral before an evaluation is initiated. We can discuss the specific referral question, available records, the scope of the evaluation, fees, and whether our services are an appropriate fit for the case.