Testing and Assessment
Psychological testing services offered:
Psychological testing services offered:
I conduct testing and evaluation for the purposes of
I conduct testing and evaluation for the purposes of
- understanding your social, emotional, cognitive, and personality functioning
- answering a diagnostic question of ADHD
- learning your strengths and struggles
- finding out your IQ
- understanding your style of thinking or personality
- getting personalized recommendations for navigating through your world
What is psychological testing?
What is psychological testing?
Psychological testing (also called assessment or evaluation) is the process of doing a deep dive into a person's history and lens in order to answer the referral question. This process is similar to doing detective work to understand "why am I like this?"
Psychological testing (also called assessment or evaluation) is the process of doing a deep dive into a person's history and lens in order to answer the referral question. This process is similar to doing detective work to understand "why am I like this?"
What is involved in doing an assessment?
What is involved in doing an assessment?
An assessment can span several weeks to complete because of how many components are required. Most assessments will include
An assessment can span several weeks to complete because of how many components are required. Most assessments will include
- obtaining an in-depth history of your medical, mental, educational, and social experiences
- completing questionnaires about possible symptoms
- reviewing medical and/or educational records
- having significant people in your current and childhood life contribute their experience of you
- doing activities that measure your cognitive abilities
Some of these can be done remotely, and some must be done in-person.
Some of these can be done remotely, and some must be done in-person.
How long does an evaluation take?
How long does an evaluation take?
A psychological evaluation typically can take 4-6 weeks to complete from start to finish. Sometimes that can be shorter or longer, depending on the complexity of the information and how quickly forms and other information are submitted.
A psychological evaluation typically can take 4-6 weeks to complete from start to finish. Sometimes that can be shorter or longer, depending on the complexity of the information and how quickly forms and other information are submitted.
The usual course of an evaluation follows this format:
The usual course of an evaluation follows this format:
- Typically, an evaluation starts with a free consultation call that is 15 minutes, to determine if I can help.
- If so, then there will be intake paperwork, questionnaires to complete, and forms to fill out that give me background information on you.
- That is followed by an intake, which lasts about 3 hours.
- If testing is deemed appropriate, then it typically is scheduled for 4 hours in-person. That is usually the extent of the time needed from you, unless there are some follow-up questions.
- I will reach out to other people in your life to gather additional perspectives on you, as well as analyze the results. How long this takes varies depending on how easily I can reach the significant others, or how complex the information may be.
- When the report is finalized and ready for you, I will reach out to schedule a feedback session.
How much does it cost?
How much does it cost?
The standard rate for assessment-related services is $200/hour. This includes face-to-face time as well as time required for scoring and interpretation of data, and report-writing. The total cost varies depending on the number of measures administered, the complexity of the case, and the time required to complete the report. A $500 deposit is required to initiate the testing process, which begins with the intake.
The standard rate for assessment-related services is $200/hour. This includes face-to-face time as well as time required for scoring and interpretation of data, and report-writing. The total cost varies depending on the number of measures administered, the complexity of the case, and the time required to complete the report. A $500 deposit is required to initiate the testing process, which begins with the intake.
Your insurance may cover psychological testing and evaluation. Call the number on the back of your insurance card to find out. Ask the following to have a full understanding of what you may be financially responsible for:
Your insurance may cover psychological testing and evaluation. Call the number on the back of your insurance card to find out. Ask the following to have a full understanding of what you may be financially responsible for:
- Is Diana Hu (NPI 1164874400) in-network?
- Do I need pre-authorization for ADHD evaluation?
- How much of my deductible is left? (For out-of-network, how much of my out-of-network deductible is left?)
- What's my co-insurance or copay for mental health services? (Specifically billing CPT codes 90791, 96132, 96133, 96136, and 96137)
- What's my out-of-pocket (or stop loss) amount?
For more help navigating insurance and these terms, follow this link.
How do I best prepare for an assessment?
How do I best prepare for an assessment?
To prepare for a psychological evaluation, the ideal steps include the following:
To prepare for a psychological evaluation, the ideal steps include the following:
- Take note of what kinds of symptoms you're noticing, and when they occur.
- Have an understanding of your current daily habits, routines, and self-care.
- Contact your insurance company to clarify your benefits and potential coverage.
- Let your parents and a close friend know that you might do this, and they may be asked for their experience of you.
- If testing is for ADHD or a learning disability, gather childhood school records such as report cards and school reports, if possible.
- Be prepared to take a full day off of work for in-person testing, and possibly a half-day for the intake.
- Know that your honesty and openness is essential to an accurate and full picture of you, and is invaluable to this process.
What should I expect at the end of everything?
What should I expect at the end of everything?
At the end of an evaluation process, you can expect to have a written report that includes all the pieces of information necessary to understand what may be going on. That includes your history, the results of your testing, any diagnoses that may be appropriate, as well as recommendations and considerations.
At the end of an evaluation process, you can expect to have a written report that includes all the pieces of information necessary to understand what may be going on. That includes your history, the results of your testing, any diagnoses that may be appropriate, as well as recommendations and considerations.
You'll have an understanding of why your are experiencing your current symptoms, as well as what you can do about them. Recommendations are organized based on medical, mental health treatment, occupational, social, and home domains so you can have many tools and directions to go in. The feedback session will go over the results, how to navigate the report, and some of the primary recommendations to focus most on.
You'll have an understanding of why your are experiencing your current symptoms, as well as what you can do about them. Recommendations are organized based on medical, mental health treatment, occupational, social, and home domains so you can have many tools and directions to go in. The feedback session will go over the results, how to navigate the report, and some of the primary recommendations to focus most on.
You are not guaranteed to receive a diagnosis, or to be diagnosed with what you believe you may have. Many conditions and typical life stressors can show up in someone's life similarly, and feel disruptive or distressing. Your results will be tailored to you, taking into account all of the factors that can impact what you are currently noticing.
You are not guaranteed to receive a diagnosis, or to be diagnosed with what you believe you may have. Many conditions and typical life stressors can show up in someone's life similarly, and feel disruptive or distressing. Your results will be tailored to you, taking into account all of the factors that can impact what you are currently noticing.