FAQs about Psychological Evaluation 

This involves a comprehensive process used to understand a child's emotional, behavioral, cognitive, and social functioning. It’s typically conducted by a licensed psychologist and can help identify a disability or areas of difficulties that may impact your child's success at home or school. The goal is to find out what’s going well and how to improve areas of struggle. The information from this evaluation can be used to identify needed supports—whether that’s individual or group therapy, school accommodations, or other services. 

While my specialty lies in working with children, adolescents, and young adults, I welcome the opportunity to support individuals of all ages who are seeking clarity, support, or a deeper understanding of their neurodivergent identity. Whether you're a parent looking for answers for your 5-year-old, a college student navigating accommodations, or an adult exploring a late diagnosis of autism or ADHD, I provide compassionate, evidence-based assessments tailored to your unique needs and life stage.

A psychological evaluation can be helpful when you’re looking for clarity about your child’s learning, behavior, emotions, or development. It’s not always the first step, but it can be the right one if you’re noticing ongoing challenges at home or school, or if you’re seeking a deeper understanding of your child’s strengths and needs. An evaluation doesn’t mean something is “wrong”, rather it’s a tool to help you make informed decisions and access the right support. Those supports might include:

• Access to appropriate accommodations at school (like an IEP or 504 Plan)

• Identifying strategies parents and educators can use to help your child be successful 

• Tailored recommendations therapists can use to support your child's difficulties

In short, the goal is to give you and the key stakeholders in your child's life a clearer picture of how your child thinks, learns, and feels so that they can implement supports needed to help them thrive.

Most evaluations will take approximately 2–4 weeks from the first appointment to the final feedback session, depending on your child’s needs and scheduling. The process usually includes the following: 

1. Initial Intake & Parent Interview - We will begin with a conversation via telehealth, where I learn about your child’s history, strengths, challenges, and your concerns. This helps me tailor the evaluation to your child’s unique needs.

2. Record Review - With your permission, I will review relevant documents such as school records, previous evaluations, report cards, and/or any current or past Individual Education Plans (IEPs) the school may have developed for your child. This gives me a fuller picture of your child’s development and educational experience.

3. Teacher & Parent Questionnaires - As school is a major part of child's life, it's important that I have a comprehensive picture of your child's skills in the school setting. With your permission, I will ask teachers to complete questionnaires to better understand how your child functions in different settings. Parents will have the same opportunity to share their own experiences with their child, to ensure the evaluation reflects your child’s everyday experiences.

4. Testing with your Child - I look forward to meeting your child for in person testing. I use a warm, supportive approach to help your child feel comfortable and engaged throughout the process. During this time, I'll use a variety of standardized assessment tools selected to explore your concerns and identify your child's strengths. These may include (but are not limited to) the following: 

   • Cognitive measures (to understand how your child thinks and solves problems)

   • Academic batteries (to evaluate your child's reading, writing, and math skills)

   • Executive functioning assessments (to explore your child's attention, planning skills, decision-making, etc.) 

   • Social communication and behavior (such as the ADOS-2)

5. Scoring and Report Writing - After testing is complete, I carefully analyze the results and summarize the findings into a comprehensive report. This report will include: 

   • A clear explanation of the information gathered across testing, interviews, questionnaires, and record review. 

   • A summary of your child's strengths and areas of challenge

   • Any relevant diagnoses (if applicable, please see "Will my child receive a diagnosis?" below)

   • Practical, individualized recommendations for home and school

You’ll receive a copy of this report that you are welcome to share with your child’s school or other providers.

6. Feedback Session - We’ll meet to go over the results together. I’ll walk you through the report, answer your questions, and make sure you feel confident about the next steps. 

It's hard to say for certain and depending on your child’s needs, testing may last anywhere from 2.5 to 4 hours in total. As testing can be cognitively demanding, I recommend breaking the evaluation into shorter sessions—no more than 2 hours at a time—to help your child stay focused and do their best. This approach allows me to gather the most accurate and meaningful information without overwhelming your child. Most evaluations can be completed over two to three in-person sessions, but this could vary depending on your child’s needs and the scope of the assessment. I’m happy to work with you to schedule sessions at times when your child is most alert and comfortable. I also understand that some families travel from farther away, and I’m always willing to collaborate on a schedule that works best for your family’s needs!

A diagnosis is not guaranteed—though it is one possible outcome of this assessment. Diagnoses carry significant weight. They can open doors to support and importantly, they become part of a child’s medical and educational record. That’s why I approach every evaluation with care, objectivity, and a commitment to best practices.

If the data clearly support a diagnosis, I will explain it in a way that is clear, compassionate, and empowering.  If not, it is my upmost priority that parents not only receive a detailed picture of how their child is functioning but that they are also offered practical recommendations to support their child's growth.

The cost for a comprehensive psychological evaluation is a flat fee of $3,500. I don’t accept insurance as the insurance system doesn’t allow for the time, depth, or flexibility I need to offer families high-quality evaluations. To help make this service more accessible, I’ve set my fee below the typical rates in the area, and I’m happy to provide a superbill you can submit for possible out-of-network reimbursement.

For more information about the cost of the evaluation, please visit: Good Faith Estimate 

It’s best to keep the explanation simple, positive, and age-appropriate. You might say something like, “We’re going to meet with someone who wants to learn more about how you think, learn, and feel, so we can better understand how to help you at school and at home.” You can also let them know that they’ll be doing different kinds of activities—some that feel like games, some that involve puzzles or questions—and that there are no right or wrong answers. The goal is to help them feel safe, curious, and understood. If you’re unsure how to frame it for your child’s age or personality, I’m happy to help you come up with language that feels right for your family.