Now is the time to thrive
Assessment and Evaluation
Many of our clients come to us with symptoms and/or behaviors that they have not been able to understand, or have not been able to pinpoint the underlying factors or causes.
At TheraThrive, our assessment process is tailored to each individual to help bring clarity to a complex presentation. Assessment can be for adults or children, ages 5 and up, depending upon the needs and situation.
Our Stance Towards Assessment
Our stance towards assessment is therapeutic and person-centered, where we combine humanistic principles with psychological testing. We value the repairative aspects and healing that assessment can provide. We utlize a multi-step process to uncover how you learn and view the world, to identify strengths and the challenges you may have that may impact you at school, work, home, and social situations. Because we have focused on serving neurodivergent populations for over a decade, we have the necessary experience and knowledge base to provide you with personalized recommendations and strategies to help you develop work-arounds, get accomodation that you need, and develop supportive skills.
How Our Evaluation Process Stands Out
We view psychological assessment as an opportunity to identify and answer specific questions and concerns, as well as a means for therapeutic understanding and connection.
Our assessors are experienced assessment specialists that offer extraordinary services, specifically tailored for you, your child and/or family.
Our assessment is focused on gaining information and clarity on your specific presentation in order to shed light on how you view yourself (or your child), your experiences in life, and the way in which you navigate the world. Assessment can also deepen self-understanding, growth and well-being.
- We are values driven; our values guide the evaluation process from start to finish.
- We begin by identifying your goals and hopes for the evaluation together, along with you.
- We develop a proposed protocol, timeline, and estimate for the evaluation.
- We value collaboration, curiosity, and the context in which your child and family live.
- We remain connected with you, your child and/or family throughout the evaluation.
- We discuss the process and procedures throughout the evaluation.
- We identify strengths, gifts, and successes specific to you or your child, while also exploring areas for growth and support.
- We plan for how to integrate and utilize the results of the evaluation to continue on the path to success through child and family specific recommendations, referrals, and next-steps.
- You may choose to receive a comprehensive and meaningful report, scrupulously written specifically for you, your family, and/or school, or you may choose to receive a diagnostic note that contains a full list of recommendations.
- We offer an add-on summary report specifically for your child and/or teen.
- We discuss and make meaning of the results together, in a comprehensive feedback session.
What Is Reparative Assessment?
At TheraThrive we offer reparative assessment as part of our assessment services. Reparative assessment is often sought out when someone has had a challenging, difficult, and/or even potentially traumatizing assessment experience in the past, where they felt dismissed and/or unheard. Sadly, this can happen often and we are here to help you recover from such an experience.
From the moment we meet with you, we want to learn more about you, your life, your strengths and your struggles. We include you along the way when determining the best tests to utilize and symptoms to focus on. We offer a collaborative feedback session as well, to ensure that we communicate our findings to you and what these findings then mean. Our goal is to help you discover more about yourself, your mental health, and to leave here feeling heard and acknowledged.
What Is Collaborative Assessment?
At TheraThrive, we provide collaborative assessment, which involves a process of working together with you and with your support system. We take into account and do our best to accommodate your unique needs and challenges.
Our assessors also collaboratively clinically with one another. Instead of a single professional conducting the assessment, a collaborative approach may involve two or more clinicians with different areas of expertise contributing to the evaluation. The different professionals involved will review the results of these assessments and share their insights with each other to develop a comprehensive understanding of your functioning.
The collaborative approach allows for a more thorough assessment that takes into account all aspects of your psychological well-being. By working with a team of professionals, you can benefit from their different perspectives and areas of expertise, leading to a more accurate and tailored treatment plan.
What Is Counseling Assessment?
According the California Association of Professional Clinical Counselors (CALPCC Scope of Practice), “assessment means selecting, administering, scoring, and interpreting tests, instruments, and other tools and methods designed to measure an individual’s attitudes, abilities, aptitudes, achievements, interests, personal characteristics, disabilities, and mental, emotional, and behavioral concerns and development and the use of methods and techniques for understanding human behavior in relation to coping with, adapting to, or ameliorating changing life situations,” which are part of the counseling assessment process.
Through counseling assessment, we develop a therapeutic client/clinician relationship (we work therapeutically and collaboratively). We use carefully selected standardized tests and measures to help clarify and assess the presenting problem(s) or question(s) you may have. Next, we identify and set treatment goals through interpretation and integration of the assessment testing results. Last, we design and implement interventions through a detailed and personalized report that contains recommendations and referrals (all of our report types include personalized recommendations).
What We Test (DSM IV-TR)
Autism
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Specific learning disabilities, including dysgraphia, dyslexia, and dyscalculia
IQ/Giftedness and twice exceptionality (2e) assessment
Social Communication Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Socio-emotional Functioning
Sleep Disorders/Insomnia
Neuropsychological/Dementia Assessment
Bipolar/Mood Disorders
Personality (Interpersonal) Disorders
Our Assessment Services
Testing clients of all ages: children, teenagers and adults
Collaborative psychological evaluation and assessment
Repairative psychological evaluation and assessment
Comprehensive psychological evaluation and assessment
Providing second opinions and/or review of previous psychological evaluations and tesitng
Identifying strengths, gifts, successes specific to you or your child, while also exploring areas for growth and support
Support with personalized recommendations and referrals
An evaluation process may consist of one assessment test or several, depending upon your situation and the type of concerns, challenges or questions you have. If more than one test is utilized, it might be called a comprehensive assessment, battery assessment, or comprehensive evaluation.
What to Expect: The Evaluation Process
At TheraThrive, we understand that our clients may be highly sensitive, intense and/or experience some anticipation or anxiety around the testing process. We will do our best to welcome you, offer a comfortable environment for testing, and offer breaks and snacks as needed.
The process of evaluation will depend upon the specific goals and assessment tests utilized. The steps in an evaluation process typically include:
1. You contact us to request an appointment, which to lets us know you would like to connect.
2. We meet with you for a complimentary 15 minute consultation call.
3. We send you a testing plan and rough cost estimate, explaining each step.
4. We schedule our first meeting, which is often a clinical interview to learn background information and history, which pertains to the testing topic.
5. You complete online documentation, which includes an informational intake form.
6. First meeting for teens and adults: This initial meeting is usually 50-100 minutes, although it may be longer or shorter in some situations.
7. First meeting for children: We will typically meet with parents for an initial meeting that lasts 50-100 minutes. If needed, we will meet with your child for a 50 minute qualitative diagnostic session prior to testing.
8. The testing/assessment process typically takes between 7 to 18 hours, depending upon the type of evaluation. Some assessments may take a bit longer, some a bit less time. The testing meetings will likely be broken up into several sessions. During the assessment process, you may be asked to participate in a variety of testing types, such as interviews, questionnaires, remote online testing, and in-office standardized tests. Some testing may involve a family member, a relative, and/or your child’s teacher to complete.
9. We score, review, analyze and compile to integrate your data. We may request additional information at this point as well. We then write your report. This process may take some time.
10. Feedback session: After the testing and written report(s) are completed, we will provide you with a feedback meeting. This meeting may be with you, or with you and your partner or family member; if our client is a child then the meeting may be with parents only, or with both child and parents, or two separate meetings, depending upon the developmental age of the child. During the feedback session, we review results and findings, discuss recommendations, and address any remaining questions.
Your Choice: We Offer 3 Types of Reports
Diagnostic Note Report
- Straight-forward
- Provide diagnostic findings
- Detailed personalized recommendations
Diagnostic Summary Report
- Provides clarity and understanding about your unique strengths, differences and challenges
- Provides diagnostic findings
- Detailed personalized recommendations
- A child’s report may be included
Comprehensive Report
- Provides clarity and understanding about your unique strengths, differences and challenges
- Provides diagnostic findings
- Detailed personalized recommendations
- A child’s report may be included
- Inlcudes a detailed history and background section
- Explains and connects the various test scores in a comprehensive summary
Each Report Style Can Help
Our Diagostic Note Reports, our Diagnostic Summary Reports, and our Comprehensive Reports include detailed recommendations and accommodation needs based on your unique needs and circumstances that can be used to:
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Confirm or rule out diagnosis(es)
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Discover comorbidity
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Gain in understanding
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Complete a picture
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Provide details of relative strengths and challenges
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Inform treatment Strategies
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Guide recommendations and specific accommodation needs
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Repair
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Self-understanding, self-acceptance
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Family/community understanding, family/community acceptance
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Communicate diagnostic information and accommodation needs to schools
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Communicate accommodation needs to employers
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Provide healthcare providers, insurance companies, or legal professionals with diagnostic information
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Inform treatment planning and help guide interventions and referrals for mental health services
Confidential Information
Duplicate print copies or PDFs of the report can be sent to you and/or any schools or professions for whom you provide written consent. Reports cannot be released to a school or anyone else without your written consent. Please schedule your appointment(s) in time for any reports to be received by your school(s), if there is concern about a deadline.
Feedback Session
During your feedback session, we will review your assessment findings in detail, including your test scores and our recommendations. During your feedback session, you will receive your diagnostic note or comprehensive report in .PDF format. You may also receive a paper copy if we meet in-office for your feedback session.
Our Testing Meet The Highest Standards
Our tests are accepted by the Davidson Institute and others.
Assessment Fees
The total cost for evaluation and assessment is based upon the amount of time associated with completing the evaluation and diagnostic note or comprehensive report. Our assessment rate is $359 per hour.
The amount of time needed to complete the assessment process is based on the type of evaluation, what is being assessed, tests utilized, and your particular presentation and needs. The types of evaluation and assessment vary greatly, and we welcome complex cases.
The amount of time it takes for the entire assessment process varies, and typically runs between 2 hours (such as a brief observation evaluation) to 20 hours (for complex situations). The total hours may include time for interviews, testing, test preparation for online remote testing sites, evaluation, text preparation for in-office testing, observation, test scoring, score review, transcripts and other documents review, report writing and feedback. Most of our assessment batteries tend to average about 7 – 18 hours, however the hours/fees depend upon the types of tests, evaluation goals and individual needs. If you have questions about assessment costs, or anything else, please contact us. We are always happy to connect!
We will provide you with a detailed estimate prior to initiating assessment and/or evaluation, and ask for 50% of the estimated amount up front in order to begin the testing and/or evaluation process.
Each session may be scheduled in 45/50 minute or 100 minute time blocks, depending upon your needs. We may schedule testing over half a day, with a break, in cases where in-office testing needs to be completed in one sitting.
There are several types of sessions:
- Clinical interviews
- Observational session
- Testing in-office or online
- Remote site testing
- Feedback session
- Consultation meetings
Assessment Process FAQ
Please click below to learn more about the assessment and evaluation process.
How do I talk with my child about the assessment process?
It’s important to be both careful and honest when talking with your child about assessment. What to say depends upon your child’s age, developmental strengths, and the topic of assessment.
In general, when you talk with us about the assessment process, we will strategize with you ways to talk about the assessment process. For example, depending upon your unique situation, it might be more helpful to avoid using the word “test” or “games,” and instead describe the assessment process as working on various activities that help you make decisions about school and/or get the right type of support. In regards to expectations, your child can be prepared to follow sets of instructions.
How can my child study or prepare for the assessment?
Please do not coach or prep your child for assessment, and please do not expose your child to assessment testing material prior to the evaluation. This would invalidate test results. Instead, the best way to prepare is to help your child understand that they will need to listen carefully, to follow directions, and to relax and just be themself. It is also helpful to start the testing process well rested and not hungry.
How long will the assessment process take?
Depending upon the type of assessment, the testing meetings generally last between 45 minutes-100 minutes. There may be more than one meeting scheduled in a given day with breaks between.
For example, the MIGDAS-2 test for adults typically takes around 100 minutes to complete, however for a percentage of clients it can take up to 4 hours to complete. The amount of time that is required to complete the test depends upon your unique presentation.
Another example is the DAS-II, which usually takes between 30 – 100 minutes, depending upon your child’s developmental age and working style. Younger children generally have a shorter test administration time. These are average times and please keep in mind that some children work faster or slower than others, and that different types of assessment take different amounts of time.
We will meet with you alone (teen, adult, or one or both parents) prior to the testing time in an initial diagnostic meeting, in order to gather information about your questions, your child’s developmental milestones, birth and pregnancy history, and other important information, and this interview would be part of the assessment meeting time.
In general, it’s best to plan on spending approximately 1- 2 hours online or at the office per visit. We will let you know ahead of time approximately how long the process will take, and if it seems that the process will take longer or shorter than anticipated, we will certainly let you know.
Will my child get a break, or do they need to sit still for 2 hours?
Depending upon the situation and type of assessment, your child may be able to take a rest break. Of course, your child will be allowed to take a restroom break, hydrate or have a snack, as needed. We understand the need to move around, and will be kind and accommodate your child’s needs.
Can I observe my child’s assessment?
Although we welcome parents to join their children for family therapy meetings, the assessment process is different, and in most cases it is not advisable for a parent to observe the assessment.
The assessor will meet with parents prior to beginning testing. Parents are expected to wait in the waiting room during the evaluation, and reading material, internet access, water and tea are provided for waiting parents.
One important source of the information is how your child responds during when parents are not present. This will also provide insight regarding how your child will perform in school. If you have a special situation, please talk with us ahead of time. We will do our best to accommodate your needs within allowable parameters of the assessment.
The assessor will work to help your child feel relaxed, and will approach the activities positively. In addition, test items are designed to be appealing and engaging to children, which will help them feel more at ease.
When can I expect the results of the assessment?
We will schedule a feedback meeting to go over assessment results with you after the tests are scored, evaluated and written up in a diagnostic note or comprehensive report. This may take 3-6 weeks after the testing has been completed, depending upon the type of testing. If you have a deadline, we will make every effort to assist you, however please schedule assessments with sufficient time to guarantee any deadlines are met.
Can I cancel or reschedule my appointment?
Yes. Appointments are often made several weeks or months in advance. For this reason, we ask that if you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, please be considerate to those who may be able to use that time, and provide at least 48 hours in advance notice for a cancellation. Please note that a late cancellation fee of $359 per each 50 minutes scheduled will be charged for appointments cancelled without 48 hours’ notice.