FAQs

Process & Logistics

When should I seek a private, psychodiagnostic evaluation?

You may want to seek private, psychodiagnostic evaluation if you feel your other providers are not able to meet your needs (i.e., waitlists, capabilities), looking for a second opinion, or if you need some clarity related to diagnoses you may fit.

What is the difference between therapy and psychodiagnostic assessment?

Therapy entails an ongoing relationship, working toward goals, and resolving issues through learning tools and skills. Assessment entails a brief (but intensive) distinct period of time in which information and data are gathered to provide you with diagnostic clarity. The assessor’s role in one’s life typically ends at the conclusion of the process. While therapists can often give diagnoses for mental health conditions, there are times when more specialized evaluation needs to occur to reach a clear and accurate diagnosis (i.e., intellectual disability).

What is the difference between psychological assessments, psychodiagnostic assessments, psychological evaluations, and psychological testing?

Essentially, they all refer to the same thing. You will find that these words are often used interchangeably, which may seem confusing. However, they all refer to the same process.

What does a psychodiagnostic assessment involve? What is the process?

After submitting a request for an assessment, the referral will be reviewed and I will call you to review the process, clarify the referral question, and discuss the preliminary assessment plan. Once the referral has been accepted and the initial deposit has been paid ($500), the assessment process can be broken down into 5 main steps. 

1. Initial measures. Initial assessment measures will be sent virtually through our secure messaging system. These assessments can be completed at home. Once all measures have been completed, we will schedule the first clinical interview. 

2. Clinical interview. This appointment can take anywhere between 2 and 3 hours. The clinical interview includes several questions about early development, family history, mental health history, history of trauma, and several other topics. For children, both parents and children must be involved. For those 18 years old and older, parent/caregiver involvement may still be warranted to gather information about early development.

3. Additional measures. If additional data is needed, additional measures will be administered. This may either be virtually or in-person, depending on the specific measures needed.

4. Report-writing. Once all necessary data is gathered, I will continue working on the report until completion. This is typically the longest part of the process. 

5. Feedback appointment. When the report is finalized, I will schedule a feedback appointment with you. This appointment is spent thoroughly reviewing the report together, the data collected, the diagnoses that were founded/unfounded, recommendations moving forward, and answering any questions you may have. Feedback sessions can be anywhere between 1 and 3 hours, depending on the length of the report and the time needed to answer your questions.

How long does the full assessment process take? How many appointments are needed, and how long is each one?

Please see above for the assessments we offer. Generally, though, the average assessment takes approximately 15 hours, spanning over 2-4 weeks from beginning to end.

What kind of tests will be used?

This is highly dependent on what the referral question is. A general overview is given above; however, each case is unique. The list of assessments will be discussed when the referral is confirmed.

What determines if an appointment is in-person or virtual?

Two main factors determine if an appointment is in-person or virtual. One is the structure of the measure(s) used, as some measures (i.e., cognitive measures) have mandatory components that must be completed in person. The other factor is the need for behavioral observations, which can be important for younger clients who are getting evaluated for diagnoses like ADHD. This can be discussed more at the time of consultation if this poses an issue.

How soon can we get started?

This is dependent on current availability. An approximate wait time can be given at the time of the telephone consultation.

Fees & Insurance

How much does the assessment cost?

This is dependent on how long the assessment process takes. Assessments are charged per hour since every case is extremely variable. I charge $300 per hour. An approximate estimate (based on the referral question) can be calculated using the breakdown of general packages listed above. You will be given a more specific quote for your case before the referral is officially accepted, and you will be notified of any changes to this quote throughout the testing process. A $500 deposit is also expected once the referral is officially accepted, which will go toward the final cost.

Do you take insurance or offer superbills for reimbursement?

I do not currently accept insurance, and you are expected to pay out-of-pocket. However, at the conclusion of services,  I can provide you with a statement of services for you to submit for reimbursement to your insurance company. Because insurance plans vary, you may want to gather the information below about your particular plan if you are eligible for reimbursement:

• Do you have mental health benefits?

• Are you specifically covered for psychological testing/assessment or psychodiagnostic testing/assessment?

• Can you get reimbursed for seeing an "out-of-network" provider?

• Does your insurance reimburse for assessment services (billing codes: 90791, 96130, 96131, 96136, 96137) and tele-health visits (modifier code: -95)?

• How much will you be reimbursed for an "out-of-network" provider?

• What is your annual deductible and have you met this already?

• Do you need pre-authorization?

Are there payment plans or sliding scale options?

Yes to both! Regular, partial payments can be made toward your total amount until the full amount has been paid off. The frequency and payment amount can be discussed before we fully accept the referral. Additionally, since assessments are charged per hour, the hourly rate can be adjusted on a case-by-case basis. This can also be further discussed before committing to the assessment process to ensure that this service is not an extreme financial hardship for you. However, it is important to note that I only offer 1 sliding scale assessment per month. This means that, while your referral may be accepted, it may be some time before we can start your assessment, depending on whether there are other sliding scale cases ahead of you. I can share a more specific and accurate wait time at the time of the phone consultation.

Is there a way to make the assessment process cheaper?

One way to cut down on the final cost is by opting out of a written report. Writing the report is one of the more time-consuming factors of an assessment. The benefits of opting out are that the final price of the assessment will be a lot cheaper, and it will have a faster turnaround. The cons of opting out are that you will not have a written comprehensive report to refer back to in the future, you will not be able to provide schools/clinicians proof of the data collected, and you will not be able to give the information to other third parties or have it documented for future reference. This may impact your likelihood of receiving accommodations or access to different services that you might have been seeking. Even without a report, we will still have a feedback session where we will verbally go over the results of the assessment. If you need help determining whether you should forego a letter, we can discuss this more when we review your referral during the phone consultation.

What is your cancellation policy for assessment sessions?

Prior to your referral being accepted, all the expectations and policies will be reviewed to ensure this is a process you can commit to. Please ensure any appointment cancellations are made more than 24hrs in advance to avoid being charged the hourly rate ($300). If you decide to cancel the entire assessment altogether after the process has begun, you will still be charged for any hours utilized in the assessment thus far (including the non-refundable $500 deposit).

Purpose & Scope

Can you provide assessments for accommodations (e.g., IEPs, 504 plans, SAT/ACT, GRE)?

IEPs (Individualized Educational Programs) and 504 Plans are the responsibility of the school or school district in which you (or your child) is a student. As of right now: we do not offer formal IEEs (Independent Educational Evaluations). Please consult with your school to determine if the information from a private testing report would be utilized as supplementary information for school accommodations. In terms of SAT, ACT, and GRE accommodations, results from the assessment may provide helpful insight into your needs and helpful accommodations. At the completion of the assessment process, a letter of diagnosis and recommendations for accommodations can be provided upon request.

Can this report be used for workplace accommodations?

This varies on a case-by-case basis. Please discuss this with your employer.

Can you reassess someone who was previously diagnosed elsewhere?

Generally: yes! A copy of the previous report(s) will need to be provided and reviewed before the acceptance of the referral to ensure that measures are not repeated. It is also a possibility that I may need to contact the previous assessor to consult.

Reports & Outcomes

What will be included in the final report?

Typically, all the information gathered during the process will be included in the final report. This includes historical/developmental information gathered from the clinical interview, data gathered from all the measures administered, diagnoses that were founded/unfounded, a summary of the findings relative to the diagnoses, and recommendations moving forward.

Will you explain the results to me (and/or my child)?

In general, feedback sessions are mandatory in order to receive the results from your assessment; you will not receive the report without a feedback session. For child cases, feedback sessions (where results are explained) are done without the child present. This is due to the potential harm from listening to complicated and sometimes difficult information. Information, though, will be discussed in such a way that parents can later share relevant information with the child if needed.

Do you offer court-ordered assessments/evaluations or therapy?

No. I do not offer therapy services at this time. For court-ordered assessments, a (forensic) psychologist is typically designated by the court to complete court-mandated assessments.

Do you assess for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?

Unfortunately, as of right now: no. This is because a diagnosis such as ASD should require a high level of specialty training to ensure diagnostic accuracy. I would love to offer ASD assessments in the future once I am fully trained and certified in an evidence-based measure (i.e., ADOS-2). Until then, ASD referrals will not be accepted. Other companies that do complete ASD assessments include: Catalight or local Regional Centers. You can also check resources from the Autism Society San Francisco Bay Area.

Confidentiality & Records

Are the results confidential? Who can access the report?

Yes, results are entirely confidential. Data and documents are stored in a way that is compliant with the standards of HIPAA. You will receive a PDF of your report through the secure client portal, which you have sole access to.

Will this become part of a permanent medical or school record? Can I decide who receives the report or information from the assessment?

Since this is a private assessment, my only obligation is to you. I will not send your report or share details of your case without your expressed consent and a signed Release of Information form. You will be provided with an electronic copy of the report, which you can print and distribute to whoever you might feel would benefit from the information. If you require more than one physical copy, this will come with administrative fees per copy. You can receive multiple copies of the report to distribute to other agencies/entities you see fit.

Can the report be shared with schools, doctors, or therapists?

You will be provided with an electronic copy of the report, which you can print and distribute to whoever you might feel would benefit from the information, including schools, therapists, and other providers. If you require more than one physical copy, this will come with administrative fees per copy.