Assessments and Rates

What is Psychological Testing?

Psychological testing refers to the battery of tests administered to evaluate the intellectual, learning, emotional and/or behavioral functioning. It is conducted in order to get a clear picture of the overall functioning and understanding of the client. It can be done for children and adults for many reasons.

Child Assessment

Diagnosing mental health disorders in children can be difficult because many different factors can affect a child’s mood and behaviors. Often times, environmental factors such as school, family or past trauma, physical health problems, or mental health disorders are impacting overall behavioral/emotional functioning.

For this reason, a mental health evaluation is often essential to understanding a child’s difficulties and how best to help them feel successful. I would work with the child and family to gains detailed information about a child’s difficulties and challenges to make an accurate diagnosis and provide recommendations for the most appropriate treatment.

Childhood assessments include the following:

Psychological evaluation

For a child who is demonstrating serious emotional or behavioral problems or has a diagnosis that needs additional clarification or support. Testing is done oneon one with the child and may include intellectual, information processing, personality, memory or attention testing.

Psycheducational Testing

Conducted when a child is having difficulty learning or in the educational setting. Eligibility for special education is being considered and child may have been referred by teacher, treatment team, councilor or pediatrician. Reasons for referral are often related to the following:

Attention Deficit Disorder (with or without Hyperactivity)
Learning disabilities
Giftedness
Learning/processing problems
Autism spectrum disorders
Emotional disturbances (depression, anxiety, mood disorders)
Psychological factors associated with medical conditions
Disruptive behavior disorders
Parent-child relational problems
Social problems

Testing will focus on how the child best learns, classroom observations,one-on-one testing for would include intellectual, achievement, speech and language, information processing, attention, and/or personality testing.

Developmental Evaluation

Conducted for young children ages 0-5 who are not demonstrating the appropriate social, relational or emotional sills or is not meeting developmental milestones. Eligibility for special education may be considered. Testing is done one-on-one with the child to evaluate motor skills, communication, pre-academic skills overall development and adaptive functioning. It may include additional observation in various settings.

Adult Assessment

Psychological assessment may be done for many different reasons, for personal knowledge and insight, assistance with diagnosis and cognitive functioning, and court mandated assessment for a variety of reasons.

Employment/Workplace Screening

Fitness-of-Duty, PTSD and Psychological Assessment for Military

Fitness-for-Duty evaluations are conducted for a variety of professions and activities. After an illness, injury, or personal leave assessments are commonly done before returning to the workforce. Individuals who are emergency first responders, security personnel, medical care providers, and those who operate vehicles or heavy machinery are often required to submit to a psychological evaluation before returning to activities. Employers may refer employees or employees may self-refer.

The transition from the military to civilian life for veterans can be difficult. Psychological evaluations can help veterans utilize their military skills in a civilian setting and help veterans identify careers and work settings where they would flourish. Often veterans come back with past trauma experiences and emotional/behavioral reactions they do not understand. Evaluation of these experiences and behaviors can help veterans and their families gain a better understanding and get the best possible treatment.

Veterans

I have extensive knowledge of treatment and assessment of PTSD and am growing a practice to help work and support the veteran population.

Therapeutic service

A unique population requires specific approaches to promote readiness for care and support engagement in services. I work from both a supportive psychotherapy and evidenced-based treatments for adjustment and trauma. Examples may include Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy, mindfulness training, relaxation techniques and building of functional coping skills to reduce high-risk behaviors common to returning veterans, including suicidal behaviors, interpersonal problems, aggression and violence, and substance abuse issues.

Assessment

Rates

The initial assessment session can take up to 2 sessions and is then followed by weekly sessions lasting 50 minutes. I do not take insurance but can provide a Superbill to your PPO insurance for partial reimbursement. Insurance usually reimburses 50%-80% of costs. I offer a 15 minute phone consultation at no charge.

Professional Fees

My standard hourly fee is $250. The standard rate also pertains to additional psychological/professional services you may need, I will break down the hourly cost if periods are less than one hour. Examples of other services include letter writing, extended telephone conversations, and consulting with other persons/professionals at your request.

Other services fees:

Group Psychotherapy (90 minutes): $75.00
Hospital Visits (50 minutes): $300.00
Psychological Evaluations and testing per hour (assessment interviews, evaluation, testing, document review, report scoring and writing):Price varies per report
Initial PTSD Evaluation for VA disability claims $500.00
Review PTSD Evaluation for VA disability claims: $300.00
Insurance: Medicare and P3/Veterans Choice ONLY