Evaluations

For Adults:
If you are experiencing ongoing challenges with mental health, behavior, or functioning—such as anxiety, depression, difficulty concentrating, or other persistent issues—and you’re seeking clarity about a potential diagnosis, an evaluation can be a helpful step. It provides a comprehensive assessment to identify underlying conditions like depression, anxiety, ADHD, or other mental health concerns.

For many adults, an evaluation is a way to get answers to longstanding questions, especially if symptoms have been misinterpreted or overlooked over time. These assessments not only help identify a specific diagnosis but also offer a deeper understanding of how certain issues may be affecting daily life, relationships, and overall well-being.

With this information, treatment can be more targeted and effective, whether that means medication, therapy, or lifestyle changes. In essence, an evaluation can provide clarity, reduce confusion, and help guide the right course of treatment, ultimately supporting your journey toward improved mental health and functioning. If you are unsure if an evaluation is the next right step for you, we can schedule an intake session with our lead psychologist in order to walk you through the process and provide more clarity.

For Children or Teens:
An evaluation may be a helpful next step for your child or adolescent if you are noticing ongoing concerns about their development, behavior, emotions, or academic performance that are not improving with regular support. It can provide a clearer understanding of any underlying issues, such as learning disabilities, ADHD, anxiety, or other mental health concerns. If you're unsure, a consultation with one of our therapists can help clarify whether an evaluation would be beneficial in addressing your child's needs and guiding appropriate treatment or interventions.

The process begins with an initial consultation to understand your concerns. From there, we’ll conduct assessments tailored to the individual’s needs, followed by a detailed report with findings and recommendations.

Our evaluation process is tailored to the specific referral question, the assessments administered, and the time required to interpret and compile the results. We strive to provide completed results within two to three weeks.

The evaluation itself typically ranges from two to six hours, which is usually divided across several sessions to ensure comprehensive information is gathered from both you and the assessments.

We answer this question quite often, and we do understand the concern of missing school to complete an evaluation. However, some assessments are best completed in the morning when cognitive function and attention are typically at their peak, ensuring more accurate and reliable results.

Even if your child misses school for the evaluation, the insights gained can provide valuable clarity and lead to more effective support, ultimately benefiting their long-term academic and emotional well-being. We will do our best to work with you to minimize disruptions to your child or adolescent's schooling. 

The report includes detailed background information, comprehensive assessment results, and a summary with interpretations of the data collected. It outlines any diagnoses, along with explanations of those diagnoses and any conditions considered but ruled out. Additionally, we provide a range of recommendations and suggested next steps.

Once the results are delivered, we will schedule a feedback session to review the findings in full, answer any questions, and ensure you are equipped to take the next steps toward health and healing. The report is designed to offer clarity and act as a roadmap for future decisions related to education, therapy, or other support services.

We are in network with United Health Care/ Optum, Cigna, and Aetna.

If we are out of network with your insurance, our out-of-pocket payment methods include FSA and HSA cards, cash, checks, and all major credit cards.

While schools primarily address educational needs, our evaluations offer a more comprehensive assessment of emotional, behavioral, and cognitive functioning. This broader perspective enables families and individuals to access personalized support beyond the classroom. Additionally, most school-based services do not provide diagnostic evaluations, which are typically conducted by an outside, licensed psychologist. However, private evaluations can absolutely be utilized as a resource to assist in developing accommodations plans for students. 

Yes, parent input is essential for many of our evaluations, particularly for younger children. We may ask you to complete questionnaires, assessments, or provide observations to ensure we gather a comprehensive understanding of your child’s needs.

However, it is important for your child or adolescent to complete the evaluation without a parent present in the room. This helps ensure they can focus fully on the assessments, providing more accurate results. In many cases, children may respond differently when parents are in the room, which can impact the reliability of their responses. By conducting the evaluation independently, we can better observe your child’s behavior, cognitive abilities, and emotional responses, which helps us form a clearer, more objective picture of their needs.

Rest assured, you will be involved in the process through feedback sessions and review of the results. While your child or adolescent completes the evaluation, you can relax in our inviting and comfortable waiting area, designed to make your time as pleasant and stress-free as possible.

If the evaluation identifies a problem, we will provide you with clear, actionable recommendations and resources to address the concerns. This may include referrals to specialists, therapy options, or specific strategies for managing the identified issue. We will work with you to create a plan for next steps and provide ongoing support to ensure you have the tools and guidance needed to move forward.

Additionally, we can offer direction for navigating educational, behavioral, or emotional challenges, helping you access the appropriate services and support for your child or adolescent.

Yes, after the evaluation, we will schedule a 30-minute to one hour phone or virtual feedback session to thoroughly review the results and discuss the next steps. This session is included in the evaluation package and provides an opportunity to address any questions you may have, clarify the findings, and ensure you feel confident in the recommended course of action moving forward.