PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING AND EVALUATION
For children with a complex constellation of symptoms, psychological testing provides insight into the roots of a child’s challenges and can provide clarity for therapeutic intervention. Testing starts the process of deeply understanding a child and provides essential data for work in therapy. We evaluate individuals from four years through young adulthood. Evaluations are performed by one of our experienced, licensed psychologists.
For more information about our psychological testing and evaluation services or to schedule an initial appointment, please schedule a consultation or call 703-876-8480.
An assessment can address the following issues:
- Behavioral issues
- ADHD
- Emotional issues (depression, anxiety, etc.)
- Learning disabilities
- Educational placement issues
- Gifted and talented appropriateness
- Private school admission
Each child is different, and evaluations are tailored to the specific referral question. However, the following is a list of the most common evaluations that we perform:
We provide the cognitive (WPPSI) testing that many children are required to have in order to apply for kindergarten at area private schools.
A cognitive evaluation is typically a standardized IQ test (i.e., WISC, WPPSI, WAIS). IQ tests are used to assess a person’s intellectual aptitude or potential.
Typically this includes the cognitive evaluation and an achievement test. It is a more comprehensive evaluation that explores how the individual learns, remembers, and retrieves information. This evaluation is usually completed when a learning disability is suspected.
A social-emotional evaluation typically consists of both projective and objective measures designed to help understand how an individual thinks and feels about him/herself. This type of evaluation may be used to differentiate between ADHD, anxiety, or depression or to explore self-esteem issues and interpersonal concerns. It is typically used in conjunction with the psycho-educational evaluation.
These evaluations are a combination of psycho-educational and social-emotional evaluations. Additional specialized measures will be included depending on the nature of the referral question.
Our clinicians conduct school observations to see how your child functions and interacts with his/her classroom environment. These observations include feedback to the parents and can inform a behavioral intervention plan or accommodations.
Besides providing a wide variety of cognitive, educational, and emotional testing batteries, our psychologists provide instructional clinical and educational recommendations based on assessment information.
How To Get Started
Contact us at info@insteppc.com or 703-876-8480 to schedule an appointment.
We strive to return your inquiry within 24 hours, if you do not speak with us directly. Our caring and knowledgeable administrative staff will work to get your initial evaluation scheduled and client portal activated prior to your first appointment. If you have a particular therapist in mind when you call, we will work to schedule you for a first appointment with your chosen therapist (if their schedule allows).
Before your first appointment, you will be contacted via email by our staff with directions on how to activate your client portal. Once completed, you will then be sent the required patient forms to be completed through your client portal.
Please provide us with any collaborative reports (i.e., psycho-educational testing reports, psychiatric reports, IEP reports, and/or educational reports). These will help us get to know you or your child more holistically.
The clinician who sees you for your appointment will be a therapist who is familiar with all aspects of therapy offered at In Step. Our clinicians are comfortable and familiar with treatment services for individuals, couples, and families, as well as the full range of group therapy services offered at the practice. Your therapist will answer any questions you may have about therapy and/or the services at In Step.Â
The initial evaluation session provides In Step with the information we need to formulate a thoughtful, clinically sound treatment plan and determine which of our services are the best fit for you and/or your family.
If you seek services for your child, you will bring your child to this first session so that the therapist can spend time with you and your child. During the first session, your clinician will gather information about your history, present concerns, and discuss therapy goals and expectations. Most initial evaluation sessions last between 60 and 90 minutes. Some clients may require additional assessment sessions to determine the best next steps.
FAQs
In Step is committed to providing the best clinical care to all clients without the limitations imposed upon us by insurance companies (i.e., number, length, and modality of sessions required). For this reason, we are out-of-network and do not participate in any insurance plans. Many of our clients can get reimbursed from their insurance carriers for out-of-network benefits. We are happy to help our clients access their insurance benefits. We also do our best to work with families when they reach out to us with certain financial restrictions, but we recognize that our program is just not possible for everyone. In those cases, we make referrals and act as a resource for other programs available in the community.
If you are interested in being reimbursed by your insurance company, contact the customer service number on the back of your insurance card and ask the customer service representative about your out-of-network provider benefits. We will provide you with a monthly receipt that includes all of the necessary documentation you need to submit to your insurance carrier. If your employer provides you with a Health Savings Accounts (HSA) or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), you are eligible to use these for mental health treatment as well.
Services may be covered in full or in part by your health insurance or employee benefit plan. Please check your coverage carefully by asking about the following procedure (CPT) codes: 90791 (initial evaluation); 90834 (individual therapy), 90853 (group therapy), and 90847 (family therapy)
Yes, all therapists are willing to fill out treatment plans as needed for clients at the practice.
Services may be covered in full or in part by your health insurance or employee benefit plan. Please check your coverage carefully by asking the following questions:
- Do I have mental health insurance benefits?
- What is my deductible, and has it been met?
- How many sessions per year does my health insurance cover?
- What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
- Is approval required from my primary care physician?
Psychological Testing & Evaluation fees are determined by our clinicians’ credentials, level of training, and experience in the field. Our fees are commensurate with other mental health practitioners in the Washington, D.C., metro area.
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