Assessments
Dr. Stephanie utilizes a neurodiversity-affirming and Collaborative and Therapeutic Assessment approach to all of our comprehensive psychological evaluations. This means the aim is to help you better understand yourself or your child and make positive changes, rather than simply figure out what “box” to fit the client in, or pathologize neurodivergent traits. Read more about Therapeutic Assessment here.
How do I know if I need an assessment?
You should consider an assessment for you or your child if:
You or other professionals are unsure about a diagnosis.
You or other professionals are having a hard time understanding what is making things hard.
You or your child are struggling socially, emotionally, or academically, and you are not sure why.
You want to advocate for additional services or supports at school or the workplace.
You want specific, targeted recommendations for home, school, and treatment based on data.
You want to better understand your or your child’s abilities and potential.
Psychodiagnostic Assessments
When you’re concerned about behavior and emotions. Usually includes DSM-5-TR diagnoses.
Autism
ADHD
Mood disorders (Anxiety, Depression)
Behavior disorders (e.g., ODD)
Trauma
Psychoeducational Evaluations
When you’re concerned about school. Usually includes cognitive and academic measures and a review of Special Education criteria eligibility.
IQ (Cognitive functioning)
Learning Disabilities
ADHD/Executive Functioning
Independent Educational Evaluations
When you want a “second opinion” evaluation conducted by someone outside of your school district. You have the legal right to request these at no cost to you if you are dissatisfied or disagree with your child’s school evaluation.
FAQS
Do you assess adults? What can I expect as an adult getting an assessment?
See this handy-dandy guide to adult assessment for more information about the process, costs, and other FAQs.
Demystifying the process of assessment.
What does the assessment process look like for children?
Most of our assessments will follow this standard procedure:
What is a “referral question?”
A “referral question” is what you, the school, your child, and/or other providers want to know. This is what guides the whole assessment process. Here are some common referral questions from parents:
“Is _____ normal or does my child need some kind of special support?”
“Does my child have ADHD/autism/depression/anxiety?”
“Why does my child behave at home but have aggression problems at school?”
“What makes learning so hard for my child? Are they not trying hard enough or do they have a disability?”
How do I explain testing to my child?
We recommend not using the word “testing” with your child, as no one likes to take tests and it may make them more nervous. Instead, explain to your child, “We are going to work with someone who will help you learn more about yourself and help me understand you better. You will get to meet with them and do different kinds of activities to learn more about yourself.” Just like any other activity, describe to them beforehand how much time, when, and where they will be coming for the “activities.” For adolescents, you may want to provide more detail.
How long does it take?
Usually face-to-face testing can be completed in three sessions (1 caregiver interview + 2 testing sessions), for a total of 6 hours. However, the length of testing depends on many factors, such as how many breaks are needed, motivation and attention during testing, and the complexity of the referral questions.
What tests and information are used?
Your questions about yourself or your child guide the process of selecting the appropriate measures. Comprehensive psychological assessments and evaluations usually include both informal information and standardized data. For child assessments, informal information comes from interviews with caregivers, the child, and sometimes teachers. For adults, interviews may be done with just you or family members. Standardized data comes from rating forms completed by caregivers, teachers, and/or the child and face-to-face administered tests given to the child.
What if I don’t like the results?
If we do our job right, you will feel like we accurately captured your concerns and helped you better understand what is going on. However, you may find out things that are different than what you expected. Our job is to support you in better understanding yourself or your child, which includes better understanding diagnoses they may or may not have, the extent of their strengths, and the extent of their challenges.
Fees
Virtual Assessment
$4,320 (6 hours of testing + written report)
$2,880 (6 hours of testing + no written report)
$360 per additional testing hour
Each flat fee includes 6 hours of interviews, testing with the client, and the assessment feedback session. Any additional time with the client is billed at $360/hour. In-person testing requires $25 travel fee per visit. At the end of your assessment intake, you will be quoted the maximum amount expected based on your referral questions.
Consultation & Advocacy
$260 per hour + $25 travel fee per visit
It is usually helpful for the psychologist to accompany parents to meetings with the school, such as an IEP meeting, or to a pediatric medical appointment, to help explain the test results and help you advocate for needed services and supports. Adult clients often need support applying for accommodations with work or school. In-person advocacy beyond the clinic, when included with an assessment, is charged at $260 an hour plus a small travel fee to cover the cost of roundtrip mileage and time away from the clinic. An additional travel fee may be included if travel is required outside of 10 miles of Corvallis, OR.
In-Person Assessment
Oregon only
$360 per hour + $25 travel fee per visit
Sometimes in-person testing is required. If we are provided with a private, quiet space suitable for testing, we can bring assessment to your home, school, or workplace. Additionally, school or home observations are sometimes necessary to provide a complete picture of a child’s behavior and needs, particularly in complex cases or when it differs across settings. When testing or observations must occur in person, we charge the standard $360 hourly rate plus a small travel fee to cover the cost of roundtrip mileage, time away from the clinic, and additional time required to coordinate. An additional travel fee may be included if travel is required outside of 10 miles of Corvallis, OR.
Insurance
We provide superbills upon request that you may submit to your insurance company for out-of-network reimbursement. Please consult with your insurance provider for more information about your policy. Learn more about out-of-network therapy services here.
Check out my fee and insurance guide for more information, including questions to ask your insurance: