A psychodiagnostic or neuropsychological evaluation is an investment of time and money, and if you are seeking a psych eval, you want to make the most of your investment. In this series, I’ll share some tips for how to do that.
Expect to Share a Lot About Yourself During a Psych Eval
I encourage potential patients (both for therapy and neuropsych testing) to look for a good fit. During a psych eval, you will be spending essentially an entire day with your psychologist, and telling them a lot of personal information. A clinical interview includes questions about:
Social history (family, relationships, partners, marriages, children)
Medical history
Any history of abuse
Mental health symptoms, diagnoses, and treatment
Drug and alcohol use, past and present
Problems you are having in your day-to-day life
These interviews can feel very vulnerable, and working with a psychologist who you feel comfortable with makes the process easier. During testing, it’s even more important to feel at ease, because anxiety can impact your test results!
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions When Seeking a Psych Eval
In addition to feeling comfortable during your psych eval, it’s also important to find a psychologist who is qualified and experienced in the type of evaluation you need. For example, some psychologists primarily do psych testing for children, others work only with adults. There are also usually practical things to consider, like cost, location, and timeframe. Here are some questions you can ask as you seek a psychologist for a psychodiagnostic evaluation:
Where is your office? (Some psychologists, like myself, see testing patients at several offices around Los Angeles and Orange County)
How often do you test patients for (adult ADHD, dementia, autism, traumatic brain injury, capacity, or whatever else you specifically need from testing)?
How much have you worked with (ADHD, dementia, capacity, TBI, cancer, etc)?
What is your specialty?
What do you charge for this type of psych eval?
Are there ever additional costs beyond this?
Do you have a wait for psych testing? If so, how long is the wait?
How do you accept payment for psychological assessments?
When can I expect a report after psych testing is complete?
Do you offer a feedback session after testing?
These questions can help you learn practical things, but the psychologist’s answers should also give you an idea of their style and how you feel talking to them.
Green and Red Flags to Keep In Mind When Finding a Psychologist for a Psych Eval
I would love to believe that anyone out there promoting him or herself as a qualified assessment psychologist is being honest. But, the truth is that becoming competent in psychological assessment takes many years of education, supervised training, and experience, and not all psych evals are the same. Here are some markers of quality in a psych eval, and some red flags to watch out for.
Green Flags (Signs that Point to a Quality Psych Eval):
The psychologist is open about his or her experience, training, specialty, and other questions you ask.
He or she seems knowledgeable about the concern you have
They are able to explain what to expect from testing and a clear timeframe for receiving a report.
They include recommendations in their report.
A feedback session is included as part of testing (this means the psychologist will go over the report and results with you).
Red Flags (Signs that Raise Questions About Quality)
The provider is not a psychologist. Only psychologists are trained and licensed to provide psychological and neuropsychological assessments. No one in mental health with a Master’s Degree (LMFT, LPCC, LCSW), or in another field (nursing, physician, occupational therapy) is qualified to do a comprehensive psychological assessment to diagnose a mental health or neurological disorder. If they are advertising this way, move on!
The psychologist is defensive or vague when you ask about their training, education, or specialty area.
They won’t give you a clear idea of cost. Sometimes the cost changes because of differences in time required, for example, if there are a lot of school and medical records to be reviewed, or because once testing starts, it becomes clear there is a need for additional tests. But in general, the psychologist should be able to tell you a specific number (e.g., $350 per hour, and about how many hours are expected, OR a flat rate, like $5,000 for the psych eval).
They do not offer a feedback session. This is an essential part of psych testing and gives you both the opportunity to fully understand your results and to ask questions about anything you don’t understand in the report.
Begin Working With A Psychological Evaluator in Los Angeles, CA
Finding the right evaluator can take time, but it is vital in receiving the best support possible. Dr. Reger provides psychological evaluations at several locations in Southern California. You can schedule an appointment by following these steps:
Contact (424) 262-1925 to schedule your appointment
Meet with a Los Angeles Psychologist for your QME psychological evaluation
Get answers that you need to continue with your work comp claim
OTHER COUNSELING SERVICES OFFERED BY Dr. REGER in los angeles, ca
I know you may experience a number of mental health concerns. This is why I’m happy to offer multiple neuropsychological and psychological assessments. Other assessments include cognitive and dementia testing, pre-surgical assessments, and med-legal evaluations. In addition to evaluations, I also provide individual therapy, counseling for older adults, and mental health consultations and presentations.