Philosophy of Testing
Psychological assessments can be conducted in many different ways for a wide variety of reasons. Often, people participate in assessments to meet a specific requirement. For example, some individuals need documentation of a diagnosis in order to qualify for accommodations in school or work settings while others are hoping to gain more insight into their current problems and to get some ideas for possible solutions. The assessment process often includes questionnaires, an interview as well as formal testing measures that can range from school-related tasks, like reading or spelling, to unusual tasks such as reciting numbers or looking at patterns. The overall goal is to gather as much information as we can in a short period of time and to use that information to provide you with some ideas or some guidance as to what might be helpful for you.
I believe that the testing process is most effective when clients and I work together in a partnership to discover the causes of, and solutions to, the problems they are struggling with in their lives. Often, people aren't sure what to expect, and I try to inform people as much as possible up front about what will happen and to keep them informed every step of the way. As part of that, I believe that feedback about the results is an extremely important part of the process. I try to make the testing reports as practical, useful and "jargon-free" as possible. My goal is for clients to leave the feedback session with an in-depth understanding of their personal strengths and weaknesses, along with some tangible ideas about possible next steps to take. Currently, I work only with adults (18+), but I have past experience with testing children and adolescents. The most common type of testing that I currently engage in is for college students who are concerned that they may have Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or a learning disability (LD).
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Learning Disabilities (LD) Testing
A comprehensive ADHD/LD battery of tests typically includes intellectual, achievement and personality testing. Particularly in the case of ADHD, it is important to get a thorough understanding of what is happening because many things other than ADHD can cause significant concentration problems. It is important to get a clear sense of what is causing the problem in order to determine the best way of solving the problem.
Clients generally spend 5-10 hours participating in the testing process, which is usually split into two separate meeting times. The report generated from this testing is typically 7 or more pages and will usually be available approximately 1-2 weeks from the time the testing is completed. This report will include test results and interpretation, diagnosis and, perhaps most importantly, recommendations for what steps to take next. I also structure the reports so that they are sufficient to serve as documentation for academic accommodations at most universities, and in the past, I have completed reports for the University of Texas and St. Edward's University. Once the report is completed, a feedback session will be scheduled in which you will have the opportunity to get test results, read over the entire report, and ask any questions that you may have about the test results, the test report or the testing process. As always, I try to make the test results clear and understandable and hope that you will leave the feedback session with a better understanding of yourself and a clear understanding of the test results.
This type of testing is very time intensive and requires approximately 15-20 hours of my time. My hourly rate is typically $100 per hour but in order to provide thorough assessments without an increase in cost, I have decided to charge a flat rate of $975 for a full battery of tests, which can be split into three payments of $325 each. However, assessments that are less time intensive, such as the ADHD screening (see below), will also be less in cost.
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Screening
Because the full battery of testing is so costly and time-intensive, I also offer an ADHD screening. This is primarily for people who have never been assessed or diagnosed with ADHD, but are suspecting that something is interfering with their day-to-day functioning - whether it is in an academic setting, a work setting, or in their relationships with others.
The screening will last approximately two hours and consists of an interview, as well as filling out some questionnaires. At the end of the screening process, I will provide you with some feedback regarding possible causes for the difficulties that you report and make a recommendation as to whether further testing could be beneficial. The cost for this screening is $300; however, if you decide that you would like to participate in the full battery of tests, the cost of the screening will be applied towards the cost of the total battery of tests. Because some of the information has already been gathered as a result of the screening, this should also shorten the length of time required to administer the full battery of tests.