Psychological Testing and Assessment

Commonly referred to as  "psych evals,"  evaluations, testing, or assessment; all of these terms refer to a process that begins with a referral question (e.g., Do I have depression?), and involves some of the following:

• Clinical Interview
• Behavioral Observations
• Mental Status Exam
• Questionnaires
• IQ assessment
• ADHD Assessment
• Autism Evaluation
• Personality Assessment
• Social-Emotional Functioning Evaluation
• Academic screening 
• Parenting Assessments
• Collateral reports

The results of these assessments are scored, interpreted, and written up. Then, a summary section is written to describe the synthesis (e.g., final product) of all of these findings. This section will include a written description of the findings and the answer to your referral question, all diagnoses (whether they are part of the referral question or not), and evidence-based recommendations, resources, and services. 

The evaluation will include the full process: administration, scoring, interpreting, and a written psychological evaluation report. Evaluations are written transparently and are intended for all audiences. Each assessment is described in detail, all relevant scores are displayed and interpreted, and the summary section synthesizes all of this information into a few easy-to-read paragraphs. It is your right as a client to know your specific scores and have them provided to you in a context that you can understand. 

A feedback session will end the evaluation process. This will be an appointment up to 45 minutes long and will go over the results, implications, answers to referral questions, and any additional questions or concerns. Reports will be shared upon scheduling of the feedback session. I believe that the client/client's family is the expert on their behavior, and I use a collaborative assessment approach. 

Psychological evaluations typically range in length, but generally last between 3-5 hours.  If it is for a child, I recommend taking them out of school for the day, and aiming for the 10 am to 2 pm range (research has shown most children are in the best state of mind during these times). If necessary, psychological evaluations can be broken up into two separate appointments. Children under age 6 may need two separate appointments due to their attention span.

For adults, some psychological evaluations can be done completely over telehealth. However, for children, autism, or ADHD testing, I recommend in-person testing either because of necessity (ADHD and autism necessitate in-person testing) or because of best practice. 

I understand that the majority of evaluation clients have an urgent need for results. For this reason, I offer reports with a turnaround time of  30 days. This is a faster turnaround time than in any setting I have ever worked, and I strive to make my reports readily available.

No preparation is necessary for a psychological evaluation, other than showing up! 

The only optional preparation would be to take some notes that you want to review at the clinical interview. This information could include: current symptoms/issues, how frequent these issues are (everyday? several times a day?), how long these issues have occurred, settings they occur in, progress, etc. Sometimes, it helps people feel more prepared to have this information on hand. 

I am sometimes asked if clients should stop taking medications before their appointment; the answer is absolutely not! Please continue your medication regimen as it is prescribed. I am happy to take into account your previous functioning prior to being on medication. However, a sudden withdrawal from medication could evoke symptoms that are not characteristic, or it could even be dangerous for your health. 

I have conducted psychological evaluations since 2013 with children and adults. I have worked with children as young as age 2 to adults of various ages. I am experienced and trained in diagnosing the following diagnoses: autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, eating disorders, PTSD, depression, anxiety, personality disorders, substance use disorders, intellectual disabilities, specific learning disabilities, speech and language disorders, psychotic disorders, disruptive and conduct disorders, gender dysphoria, and dissociative disorders. 

I have limited neuropsychological testing materials (e.g., autism, ADHD), but I do not do neuropsychological evaluations for traumatic brain injuries, stroke, or other medical conditions. I am happy to look for a colleague to refer you to if you are needing one of these areas! I also do not offer "Line of Duty" evaluations  or "Fit for Court" evaluations.

Absolutely not! Although sometimes therapists, medical doctors, or teachers/employers may recommend a psychological evaluation, it is not necessary to have a referral. Common reasons for seeking evaluations include: diagnosis, treatment recommendations, accommodations for school, or seeking services that require a diagnosis. 

In psychology, we commonly refer to a psychological evaluation as a "snapshot." It is only representative of who you were at that period of time, based on how you presented that day, and what information you supplied. So if your symptoms change in the future, you may have different diagnoses. Certain diagnoses, like ADHD, Autism, and intellectual disability are lifelong and do not go away. 

I currently have openings as soon as within the next month. Please contact me directly using the "contact me" form or via my contact information to confirm my soonest opening.