Testing & Assessment Services

Psychological testing timelines vary based on the type and depth of the evaluation, but most comprehensive assessments unfold over several stages. For example, brief screenings may take just 15 to 30 minutes, while full cognitive, psychoeducational, or neuropsychological evaluations often span 4 to 8 hours, divided across one to three sessions depending on the client's age, attention span, and comfort level. Some evaluations are completed in a single day, while others are scheduled over consecutive or separate days to reduce fatigue and improve accuracy. After testing is complete, families typically receive a detailed written report—and while this document often meets all school or referral requirements, and a feedback session is offered for a deeper explanation of the results and recommendations.

Overall, the process from intake to report delivery can take 4 to 6 weeks, so we encourage you to begin scheduling as soon as possible to stay ahead of important deadlines. Pending mutual availability, expedited services are possible for an additional fee.

You may have noticed a pattern of issues with working memory, attention, and concentration that’s been present for a long time and impacting your daily functioning at work, school, or your personal life. Perhaps you’ve even completed a screener on your own or with a doctor. A screener is a very useful tool for noticing and flagging symptoms! However, screeners are not comprehensive and do not help us understand the root of the symptoms.

ADHD testing is a comprehensive evaluation designed to explore attention, focus, and impulse control challenges that may be affecting daily life. Rather than relying on a single test, clinicians use a combination of interviews, behavior rating scales, and cognitive assessments to understand each individual’s unique profile. This process helps determine whether symptoms align with ADHD and rules out other possible causes, such as anxiety, learning differences, or sleep issues.

For children, input from caregivers and teachers is often included to capture behavior across settings. For adults, the evaluation may explore long-standing patterns that impact work, relationships, or personal goals. A thoughtful diagnosis can open the door to tailored support—whether through therapy, accommodations, or lifestyle strategies—empowering individuals to thrive with greater clarity and confidence.

Neuropsychological testing helps uncover how your brain functions in areas like memory, attention, language, and problem-solving. You might consider this type of evaluation if you’ve noticed changes in thinking, mood, or behavior—such as difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, or feeling mentally “foggy.” It’s also recommended after events like a concussion, stroke, or when there’s concern about conditions like ADHD, learning differences, or dementia.

Neuropsychological testing explores a broad spectrum of cognitive abilities to build a comprehensive understanding of how an individual processes and responds to information. These evaluations typically examine areas such as:

• Information processing speed

• Attention and concentration

• Learning and memory capabilities

• Language skills

• Visual-spatial reasoning

• Motor coordination and functioning

• Executive functions (including reasoning, planning, organization, cognitive flexibility, and impulse control)

• Auditory processing

This testing goes beyond surface-level symptoms to explore the underlying cognitive processes that shape how you learn, communicate, and cope with daily life. Whether you're seeking clarity around a diagnosis, planning for academic or workplace accommodations, or looking to guide therapy more effectively, neuropsychological testing offers a detailed roadmap of your strengths and challenges.

Diagnostic clarification evaluations (or social/emotional evaluations) are designed to better understand psychological symptoms and provide targeted guidance for therapy or other support services. These evaluations are appropriate for individuals across the lifespan, including children, adolescents, and adults.

They offer meaningful insight into emotional functioning by clarifying the nature of presenting concerns and how they affect day-to-day life. These evaluations may also shed light on the impact of trauma or adverse experiences, helping to explain how a person responds to their environment and navigates challenges.

For individuals who feel stuck or plateaued in therapy, this type of assessment can offer renewed direction by identifying underlying processes and patterns that may guide more personalized treatment. Diagnostic clarification is often recommended when someone is struggling to manage responsibilities or experiencing significant psychological distress—especially when there’s uncertainty about what’s driving those difficulties.

In children, diagnostic clarification may be especially helpful when emotional, behavioral, or social difficulties are present. By examining an individual’s internal world—such as past experiences and present-day coping strategies—these evaluations offer insight that can guide more effective and personalized therapeutic support.

For these evaluations, we often use the following measures: Examples of measures used in social/emotional evaluations are the MMPI-3, MCMI-IV, MACI-II, PAI, SCID-5-CV, K-SADS, BDI-II, BASC-3, BAI, BYI-II, BRIEF-II or BRIEF-A, Y-BOCS, PCL-5, CAPS-5, Rorschach Technique, TAT, Sentence Completion Test, and others.

Psychoeducational or learning disorder evaluations are typically sought when a child or adolescent is experiencing academic difficulties that may be linked to a learning disability or attentional challenges such as ADHD. Adults may also pursue these assessments when they encounter similar challenges in educational or professional settings, especially if they have a history of learning-related concerns.

These evaluations help uncover the root of academic struggles—whether through formal diagnoses or alternative explanations—and offer insight into an individual’s learning style and strategies that may support success. They can assess for specific learning disorders, including difficulties with reading (dyslexia), writing (dysgraphia), or math (dyscalculia), as well as language-based challenges or nonverbal learning disorders.

The results from psychoeducational testing can be a valuable resource when requesting academic accommodations through Section 504 plans, Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), or special education services. They also provide the necessary documentation to support workplace accommodations or secure extended time on standardized exams such as the SAT, GRE, MCAT, or LSAT.

We recommend scheduling admissions testing as early as possible to ensure the evaluation and final report are completed well before school application deadlines. This allows ample time for schools to review results during their decision-making process. Families may choose to include a feedback session as part of the testing process—this optional meeting provides a detailed, personalized explanation of the results. However, the written report alone is often sufficient for admissions purposes and meets school requirements.

In the DC, MD, and VA area, most schools begin their admissions cycles in the fall, with testing recommended between October and January. Testing should be completed at least 2–4 weeks before school deadlines to allow time for scoring and report delivery.

After the assessment, findings are carefully analyzed and compiled into a detailed report, which is then reviewed during a comprehensive feedback session. This session not only helps clarify potential diagnoses but also offers a meaningful overview of the client’s psychological functioning across various domains.

During this process, we explore key aspects of the individual’s cognitive and emotional profile, including strengths and coping strategies, patterns of perception and thinking, reality testing, emotional regulation, self-image, and interpersonal dynamics. Where relevant, we also discuss common underlying processes that may contribute to the concerns presented.

The feedback session includes personalized recommendations tailored to the client’s academic, occupational, social, or personal needs. Guidance for future treatment—such as therapy, medication options, or referrals—is also provided. Upon request, the report can be shared with a client’s therapist or psychiatrist to help coordinate care.

Yes! Our office is designed to accommodate clients with physical, motor, or mobility-related concerns. There is a ramp for entry into the building at street-level and elevators up to our office suite. Furthermore, there are several options for ADA-accessible garage parking within a one-block radius.

Referrals are not needed for neuropsychological or ADHD evaluations; however, many individuals pursue testing based on recommendations from healthcare professionals, educators, or family members who’ve noticed changes or concerns. Others choose to seek evaluations on their own after recognizing shifts in their memory, attention, or overall thinking abilities.

We are not in-network with any insurance plans, including Medicare, Medicaid, or Aetna, which means we don’t bill them directly. However, many clients can get reimbursed for a big portion of their costs if their insurance includes out-of-network benefits.

Here’s how I help:

• After your assessment, we’ll give you a detailed invoice with everything your insurance needs (codes, dates, services).

• You’ll submit this invoice to your insurance for reimbursement.

Your insurance company decides if and how much they reimburse. While we can provide necessary documentation, the reimbursement process and its outcome are outside my control. We are happy to assist you in understanding and navigating your insurance benefits as they relate to the services offered.

Before scheduling, it's smart to call your insurance provider and ask:

• Do you cover out-of-network psychological testing?

• What percentage is reimbursed?

• Are there any forms or deductibles I should know about?