Psychological Evaluations

I know that starting an evaluation can feel like a big step, so I want you to know what to expect along the way.

1. Parent interview. We'll start with a conversation about your child: their history, their strengths, what's been hard lately, and what you're hoping to understand. You know your child best, and your insight guides everything that follows.

2. Rating scales. You, and often your child's teachers, will complete questionnaires. These help me see how your child is doing across the different parts of their day.

3. Testing sessions. Your child will meet with me for one or two testing sessions, depending on the questions we're exploring and what your child needs. I work to make these sessions comfortable and let your child go at their own pace.

4. Report and feedback session. Once the report is complete, we'll sit down together to go over the results. I'll explain what they mean, answer your questions, and talk through next steps so you leave feeling clear and supported.

I'm a parent too and I understand how overwhelming it can be to receive a long report full of recommendations with no clear place to start. That's why I tailor my recommendations to your family's real life and prioritize them so you know what to focus on first and what can wait.

I also write recommendations with your child's school team in mind so they're easy to understand and put into practice. For example, if your child is experiencing anxiety at school, I'll share practical strategies and also show what that support could look like in a 504 Plan or IEP, if one is needed.

Sample IEP goal: "By the end of the IEP period, when [Student] feels anxious during class, [Student] will independently use a coping strategy (such as deep breathing or asking for a break) and return to the task within five minutes in 4 out of 5 opportunities, as measured by teacher data collection."

Sample 504 accommodation: "[Student] will have access to a break pass, allowing brief breaks in a designated calm space when feeling overwhelmed."

Because every child and every referral is different, the cost depends on the questions we're working to answer. Before we begin, you'll receive a good faith, written estimate of the expected costs of your child's evaluation. Families who aren't using insurance are entitled to this under the federal No Surprises Act, and it's one way I make sure there are no surprises. I also offer payment plans because I want this process to be accessible to families.

Yes, I can attend school meetings. Whether it would be helpful depends on your child's results and what your family needs. We'll talk it through together during our feedback session and you can decide what feels right.

I made a thoughtful choice not to work with insurance. This allows me to choose the assessments that will best answer your questions about your child, instead of being limited to what an insurance company approves. It also means you stay in control of who sees your child's information.

If you'd like to seek reimbursement, I'm happy to provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance company. Depending on your plan's out-of-network benefits, you may receive some reimbursement.