Assessment, Evaluation, and Counseling/Psychotherapy Services
The purpose of an evaluation is to gather all of the pieces of the puzzle and make sense of them. Every individual is different, and although standardized assessments are used in many cases, they are used as one data point in the puzzle. Evaluations are conducted to connect the dots across multiple data points. This may be through direct assessment, direct intervention and support, review of information available, professional development, collaboration or advocacy.
In most cases, appointments for all services listed below can be scheduled within 4 weeks.
All screenings and evaluations include gathering of background information from parent(s)/legal guardian(s), a written report, and a feedback session as needed to review the results.
Comprehensive evaluations also include gathering information from teacher(s) with parent/legal guardian permission and may result in a diagnosis supported by the evaluation data.
All evaluations are scheduled in 2-hour blocks, as most individuals cannot do their best for longer periods (including myself). These sessions often include breaks, including very short breaks between tasks as well as longer play or bathroom breaks, or just a quick walk around the building (especially for younger children) as needed.
Screenings and assessments only focusing on one area (for example, cognitive/IQ only or academic only) are usually completed in one appointment. Other evaluations may take 2, 3 or even 4 appointments. Sometimes, after completing all of the initial evaluation sessions, the data is unclear or suggests another area of assessment. I will explain this clearly, and offer the opportunity to consider additional appointments. My goal is to answer all possible referral questions, as well as any other questions that might arise from the evaluation.
Occasionally, appointments can be scheduled in the same day, with a 1.5 hour break between the 2 sessions. This is especially helpful for families traveling a distance to be evaluated, to reduce the number of trips to my office.
Many appointments are scheduled in the evenings during the week, or on Saturdays. This allows for your student to not miss school. During summer months and school breaks, some daytime appointments may be available as well.
Some of the evaluation process can be completed remotely, most often completion of intake forms, background forms, and questionnaires/rating scales. In some cases, some of the actual testing can be done remotely as well, but the preference is for this to be in person. If you live far from Centennial but want to consider an evaluation, please reach out to discuss remote assessment options.
Evaluation fees noted below are subject to change and may include a range. All fees are flat rate, not hourly or based on the number of tests given. If there are areas for additional assessment out of my scope of practice, I may refer to other specialists.
Evaluation costs can be divided into 2 or 3 payments across the process. For comprehensive evaluations, this is usually 3 payments - a deposit before the first evaluation session, a payment after all evaluation appointments are completed, and final payment when the report is completed. All other evaluations can be divided into 2 payments, with a deposit before the first evaluation appointment and final payment when the report is completed. Other payment plans can be discussed as well.
I accept all major credit cards, ACH payments, cash, and/or checks. Most families/clients pay with a credit card or HSA/FSA account. I cannot directly accept Zelle, Apply Pay, Google Pay etc. I do not work with insurance, but families have successfully accessed HSA/FSA accounts.
Following the evaluation, you can provide a copy of the report to your child’s school/your school, but their only requirement is to consider it - they do not have to accept it. I do write my reports with the intention of them being accepted by the school.
For students in grades PK-12, if the evaluation suggests a possible need for further support in school, please know the school system may need to conduct their own assessments as well as considering the results of this evaluation. Sometimes families go through the school first for this reason, but you do not have to.
Play-based counseling/psychotherapy is a per session fee, usually for a 50 minute session. These appointments are in the evenings during the week.
While I am experienced (over 17 years of experience) and licensed and trained to complete these evaluations or engage in play-based therapy, it is important to note that I am not a doctoral level practitioner (I do not have an M.D., Ph.D., or Psy.D.). If anything is beyond my scope of practice, I will inform you as soon as I am aware and provide potential referrals.
