How Assessment Works

Get insight into concerning changes, be they cognitive or emotional, new or longstanding — let’s take a peek at the process of an assessment from start to finish.

 1. Intake Session

(1+ hours)

• You complete consent forms and provide details via an intake form. (Often I’ll request records from your other healthcare providers with your approval.)

• Next, an intake interview is scheduled wherein you and I will meet either virtually or in-person to review your background and hear more about what’s going on for you.

2. Assessment

(1 to 5 hours)

• On the same day as intake (or scheduled on a separate day), you and I will meet either in-person or virtually to conduct the assessment.

• NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL:

  • If we’re looking at your thinking abilities (e.g., you have concerns about memory), I will guide you through a series of tasks (about 5-10 minutes each) over the course of 1 to 3+ hours — breaks are provided as needed.

  • The tasks can involve paper and pencil, manipulation of objects, or responding to pictures or verbal prompts from me. While often straight forward, they can be quite challenging at times.

• PSYCHOLOGICAL: If the sole concern is emotional/behavioral functioning, you will be given a series of questionnaires for you to complete, and occasionally more interactive tasks.

3. Review/Feedback*

(1 hour)

• CLINICAL: If you were referred by your physician or yourself for clinical purposes (e.g., diagnosis of a psychiatric or cognitive disorder), you and I will schedule to meet about 2 weeks following assessment. We will review your results and the diagnosis given, as well as recommended steps going forward. You will also have an opportunity to ask questions and be provided a report for your keeping.

• MED-LEGAL: For personal injury or Workers’ Compensation cases, a feedback session is typically not conducted. Instead, the results are given to the requesting party (e.g., your lawyer), who can coordinate with me on follow-up questions, etc.