As a clinical psychologist I am able to provide psychological evaluations (sometimes called psychological testing) to assist in diagnosis and inform the direction of treatment.  Whether you are new to therapy or have received therapeutic services in the past, you may benefit from psychological assessment. 

Testing often reveals insights and underlying issues not directly discussed in therapy, and can serve as a jump start to beginning treatment with specific areas of focus in mind.  Assessment consists of an initial interview to gather background information, followed by a variety of measures selected specifically for your presenting concerns which help me better understand your symptoms.  It provides data on how you see yourself, others, and the world.  I generate a report for you to keep and share my findings with you in a results session. 

The length of time to complete a psychological assessment depends on the referral question, i.e., the reason for testing, and how quickly an individual completes the tests that make up the assessment.  The interview usually lasts anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.  Sometimes more time is needed in order to gain a complete history.  Testing is largely self-paced, so most things I ask people to complete do not have time limits, and the time people take to read and respond to items can vary.  Some people like to complete testing all at once and that might look like a 3-4 hour block of time, and others prefer to have smaller blocks of time, i.e., around 1-2 hours per testing session. 

You may be wondering if your insurance will pay for testing.  Typically yes, this is the case for most insurances.  You will still be responsible for paying your deductible if it needs to be met.  If you have met your deductible, you will pay your co-pay or co-insurance at each testing session.  If you are self-pay, the assessment rate is calculated by using my hourly rate which includes face to face testing time, scoring, interpreting, and report writing time.  For more information about payment and insurance, please see my Rates page.

• People who were recommended by their current therapist or psychiatrist to undergo a psychological evaluation
• People who have had multiple diagnoses in the past and want clarification
• People with complex psychiatric histories
• People who want to better understand their personality traits and interactions with others
• People who are questioning whether to explore medication to manage their symptoms (although I am not a medication prescriber, I make recommendations for medication evaluations when appropriate)