Psychological Testing and Assessment

Psychological testing is done for a variety of different reasons.  Below are some examples of the type of testing I provide and a brief description of each.  All types of evaluations can be conducted in English or Spanish, though final reports are only in English.

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Limited Projective or Personality Testing alone is sometimes recommended when an assessment of an individual’s emotional/psychological functioning is required and there are no academic or cognitive concerns.  These evaluations are most often recommended by a therapist who seeks a greater understanding of a patient’s emotional functioning or personality.  Sometimes this type of evaluation includes cognitive testing as well.  This helps assure that cognitive factors (limited intellectual ability or uneven cognitive development) are not interfering with psychological and emotional functioning.

Psychoeducational Evaluations are conducted for the purposes of diagnosing a learning disability and/or ADHD.  They are generally recommended when a person is having academic or occupational difficulties.  These are also the evaluations required in order to receive accommodations on standardized national tests, such as the SAT, ACT, LSAT, GRE, and GMAT. In addition to including all the elements required for a good diagnostic report, these evaluations must meet the legal requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.  Meeting the legal requirements allows the person to potentially receive special education services in the classroom, academic accommodations in college, or occupational accommodations in the workplace.

Comprehensive Psychological Evaluations include all elements of a psychoeducational evaluation as described above, but also include tests to fully assess emotional/psychological functioning.  These tests are required when there are concerns about an individual’s mental health or behavior, particularly if emotional or behavioral factors interfere with academic or occupational functioning.  

Other types of testing are available including: 

• Evaluations for ADHD alone (where there are no academic problems evident).  These typically include a cognitive assessment that extended deeply into attention measures, as well as specific tests designed to assess for attentional functioning.  These evaluations are most often done to clarify or affirm a diagnosis, but when documentation for school or workplace settings is not needed.

• Testing to supplement an incomplete evaluation to clarify a diagnosis.  Sometimes an evaluation conducted by another psychologist is incomplete or new information emerges that requires additional testing in order to understand what is going on with a patient.  Depending on the scope, quality, and recency of the previous evaluation, an evaluation that clarifies findings can be conducted. 

• I conduct some types of court-ordered testing, typically competency to parent and parental fitness evaluations when these are required for a foster care or custody process.  These are typically evaluations of individual parents to provide the Court information about their functional skills or mental health diagnoses.  They do not typically recommend whether a parent should be awarded custody nor do they propose specific arrangements for visitation in a divorce.  In these cases, any court testimony that might be required is billed separately, on a retainer.

• Admissions to Roman Catholic seminaries and religious orders require a specialized psychological assessment.  I work with clergy and with men and women religious, and conduct these assessments for men and women who are interested in the priesthood, permanent diaconate, or in entering a religious order. Please click here for more information.

• In immigration cases, various types of evaluation are often required.  Sometimes a hardship evaluation is required to document whether the deportation of a family member results in extreme hardship on remaining members of the family as part of a petition for a visa or other immigration-related legal proceeding.  I also conduct evaluations to support asylum petitions, document psychological distress to support the application for a U-visa, and documenting learning disabilities or cognitive impairment to be able to take the US Citizenship test in another language, or the documentation of a disability for an N-648 (Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions).  These can all be completed in English or Spanish as well.  **If you are interested in this type of evaluation, I usually ask to speak to your attorney ahead of scheduling to assure that I am conducting the correct type of evaluation and to assure that I can meet any required deadlines.  Fees for these vary depending on the individual referral question.