As a parent, you know when something isn't quite right. Your teen may be struggling emotionally, withdrawing from family and friends, falling behind in school, or reacting in ways that seem out of character. While these challenges can sometimes be part of normal adolescent development, they can also be signs of an underlying concern that deserves a closer look.
A comprehensive psychological evaluation helps us understand what is contributing to your teen's difficulties. Rather than focusing on a single symptom or diagnosis, we look at the whole person—emotional functioning, behavior, attention, learning, development, and family history—to gain a clearer understanding of your teen's unique strengths and challenges.
Our goal is not simply to provide a diagnosis. It is to provide answers. A thorough evaluation can help clarify what your teen is experiencing, identify factors that may be affecting their daily functioning, and provide meaningful recommendations for treatment, school accommodations, and ongoing support.
Whether your family has been searching for answers for years or concerns have only recently emerged, we are here to help you better understand your teen and determine the most appropriate path forward.
No two teens are alike, and there is rarely a single explanation for the challenges they are experiencing. A comprehensive psychological evaluation looks at multiple areas of functioning to develop a complete picture of your teen's strengths and areas of need.
A comprehensive psychological evaluation helps us understand more than whether your teen meets criteria for a particular diagnosis. It provides a clearer picture of how your teen thinks, learns, manages emotions, processes information, and functions in everyday life.
Depending on your concerns, an evaluation may help identify or clarify:
Many families come to us with more questions than answers. A comprehensive psychological evaluation can help provide clarity by answering questions such as:
Sometimes an evaluation confirms a diagnosis. Other times, it rules out concerns that may have been suspected and identifies a different explanation altogether.
Our goal is not simply to assign a diagnosis. It is to help you understand why your teen is struggling and provide practical recommendations that support success at home, at school, and in treatment.
Every teen experiences challenges from time to time. However, when emotional, behavioral, academic, or social concerns begin interfering with daily life, a comprehensive psychological evaluation can help identify what may be contributing to those difficulties.
You may want to consider an evaluation if your teen is:
Sometimes families come to us with a specific concern, while other times they simply know that something has changed but aren't sure why. A comprehensive evaluation helps answer those questions by providing a clearer understanding of your teen's strengths, challenges, and the factors affecting their functioning.
If you've been searching for answers, you've likely seen many providers advertising ADHD or autism evaluations. As a parent, it can be difficult to know what the differences are or which type of evaluation is right for your teen.
A comprehensive psychological evaluation is much more than administering a single test or completing a checklist. It is a thorough process designed to understand the whole person. Symptoms such as inattention, anxiety, depression, trauma, learning differences, sleep difficulties, medical concerns, and autism can overlap in significant ways. An accurate diagnosis requires careful consideration of these possibilities rather than focusing on a single condition.
Our evaluations are completed in person by a licensed Psychologist using multiple sources of information—not a single screening tool or checklist. We use multiple sources of information, including clinical interviews, behavioral observations, standardized assessment measures, and, when appropriate, cognitive, academic, personality, and emotional testing.
Many emotional, behavioral, developmental, and learning concerns share similar symptoms. Difficulties with attention, anxiety, depression, trauma, learning differences, executive functioning, and autism can overlap in significant ways. A comprehensive psychological evaluation helps ensure that recommendations are based on a thorough understanding of your teen rather than focusing on a single symptom or diagnosis.
Screening tools can be a valuable first step in identifying concerns that may warrant further evaluation, but they are not intended to provide a diagnosis on their own. Because many conditions share similar symptoms, a comprehensive psychological evaluation considers multiple sources of information—including interviews, behavioral observations, developmental history, standardized assessment measures, and clinical expertise—to develop the most accurate understanding possible and provide meaningful recommendations for treatment and support.
Because many standardized psychological tests were developed and normed for in-person administration, conducting evaluations face-to-face allows us to administer these measures as intended while also observing aspects of behavior, attention, effort, social interaction, and problem-solving that cannot always be captured through questionnaires alone.
Our goal is not simply to determine whether your teen meets criteria for ADHD or Autism Spectrum Disorder. Our goal is to understand why your teen is struggling and provide clear, accurate recommendations that help guide treatment, school planning, and future success.
Choosing an evaluation is an important decision. If you're comparing providers, don't hesitate to ask what the evaluation includes, who conducts it, whether it is completed in person, what standardized measures are used, and whether you'll receive a comprehensive written report with individualized recommendations.
We understand that scheduling a psychological evaluation can feel overwhelming, especially if this is your family's first experience with testing. Our goal is to make the process as straightforward and informative as possible.
Your journey begins with a conversation with one of our psychologists, typically Kristin Krippa or Dr. Marcy Jaslow. During this consultation, we'll discuss your concerns, answer your questions, and determine whether a psychological evaluation is appropriate for your teen.
Based on the information you share, we'll recommend the type of evaluation that best addresses your concerns. We'll also explain the evaluation process, estimated testing time, fees, and answer any questions you may have before you make a decision about moving forward.
The evaluation begins with a comprehensive parent interview, which typically lasts about an hour. This meeting allows us to gather important background information about your teen's developmental, medical, educational, social, and emotional history. Understanding the whole picture helps ensure that testing is tailored to your teen's unique needs. This can be done virtually to save your time and schedule around your work schedule when possible.
Testing is completed in person and is individualized based on the referral questions and concerns discussed during your consultation. Depending on the evaluation, testing may be completed in a single day with breaks, across two sessions on the same day, or over multiple days.
Whenever possible, Saturday testing appointments are available to help minimize missed school and work.
There is no one test that diagnoses ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, anxiety, or other psychological concerns. Instead, we use a combination of standardized assessment measures, clinical observations, interviews, rating scales, and other assessment tools to develop a comprehensive understanding of your teen's functioning.
After testing is complete, we carefully score and interpret all assessment data and integrate information from multiple sources. We then prepare a comprehensive written report that summarizes the findings, provides diagnostic impressions when appropriate, and includes individualized recommendations for home, school, and treatment.
Once your report is complete, we'll meet with you to review the results in detail. Depending on your teen's age and the nature of the evaluation, they may also participate in this meeting.
Your Psychologist will explain the findings, answer your questions, discuss their personalized recommendations for your child, and help you understand the next steps so you can move forward with confidence.
When your evaluation is complete, you'll receive much more than a diagnosis.
Your comprehensive report is designed to help guide decisions about treatment, educational planning, and other supports. Depending on your teen's needs, recommendations may include therapy, medication consultation, school accommodations, classroom strategies, additional services, or referrals to other specialists.
Because no two teens are exactly alike, neither are our recommendations. We don't rely on a standard list of suggestions based solely on a diagnosis. Instead, we integrate every aspect of your teen's evaluation to develop individualized recommendations that reflect their unique psychological profile, strengths, challenges, and goals. Our objective is to provide clear, practical guidance that helps families, schools, and treatment providers make informed decisions and confidently move forward.
Our goal is to provide the information and practical recommendations your family needs to make informed decisions and move forward with confidence.
Choosing a psychologist to evaluate your teen is an important decision. A comprehensive psychological evaluation should provide more than a diagnosis—it should help you understand your teen's strengths, challenges, and the factors contributing to their current difficulties.
At Krippa Family Psychological & Wellness Services, we believe every evaluation should be individualized, thorough, and clinically meaningful. Before testing begins, one of our psychologists takes the time to understand your concerns, review your teen's history, and develop an evaluation plan based on the specific questions you are hoping to answer. Rather than relying on a single screening tool or checklist, we integrate information from clinical interviews, behavioral observations, standardized assessment measures, and our clinical expertise to develop a comprehensive understanding of your teen.
Whenever possible, Saturday testing appointments are available to help minimize missed school for your teen and time away from work for parents.
Our evaluations are completed in person by experienced psychologists. Dr. Marcy Jaslow, PsyD, has extensive experience conducting comprehensive evaluations for ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, learning disorders, and a wide range of developmental, emotional, and behavioral concerns.
Dr. Sarah Spade, PsyD, provides comprehensive ADHD evaluations for adolescents. She works closely with families to better understand attention, executive functioning, and related concerns.
Both are committed to providing thorough, evidence-based evaluations that help families move forward with confidence.
When your evaluation is complete, you'll receive a comprehensive written report that clearly explains the findings in understandable language and provides practical, individualized recommendations. We also meet with you to review the results, answer your questions, and discuss the next steps so you leave with a clear understanding of your teen's needs and a plan for moving forward.
If your teen would benefit from therapy, medication management, or our Teen Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) following the evaluation, our providers can work together within the same practice to coordinate the next steps and develop an individualized treatment plan. This collaborative approach helps ensure that your evaluation results are translated into meaningful, personalized care rather than simply ending with a report.
Whether your concerns are new or you've been searching for answers for years, our goal is to provide the clarity, guidance, and recommendations your family needs to move forward with confidence.
What should I expect to invest in a Psychological Evaluation?
Most comprehensive psychological evaluations fall between $2,500 and $4,000, depending on the type of evaluation recommended. After speaking with you about your concerns, we'll recommend the most appropriate evaluation, explain the anticipated cost, and answer all of your questions before you make a decision.
Will insurance cover my evaluation?
We do not bill insurance directly. Upon request, we will provide a detailed superbill that families may submit to their insurance company for possible out-of-network reimbursement.
Before your evaluation, we will contact your insurance carrier to determine whether your plan offers benefits for psychological testing. Coverage varies considerably from one plan to another. Some plans provide partial reimbursement for evaluations related to diagnosing conditions such as ADHD, while psychoeducational evaluations are often excluded from coverage. Even when benefits are available, reimbursement for psychological testing is frequently limited.
Our administrative team will explain any benefits we are able to verify so you have a clear understanding of your potential coverage before moving forward.
How long is the wait for an evaluation?
Appointment availability varies throughout the year. During your consultation, we will discuss our current scheduling timeline and work with you to schedule the earliest appointment that meets your family's needs.
Whenever possible, Saturday testing appointments are also available to help minimize missed school and work.
Currently, we can usually get folks in for an evaluation within a week to a couple of weeks.
How long does the evaluation process take?
Every evaluation is individualized, so the length of the process depends on your teen's specific concerns and the testing recommended. Most evaluations include an initial consultation, parent interview, one or more testing appointments which may be completed on the same day in 2 hour blocks of time, scoring and interpretation of the results, preparation of a comprehensive written report, and a feedback session to review the findings and recommendations.
How soon will we receive the report?
Following the completion of testing, your psychologist carefully scores, interprets, and integrates all of the information collected before preparing your written report. Reports are typically completed within 2–4 weeks of the final testing appointment. During your feedback session, your psychologist will review the results, answer your questions, and discuss recommendations for moving forward.
Can the evaluation be used for school accommodations such as a 504 plan, IEP, or standardized testing accommodations?
Yes. If appropriate, your comprehensive evaluation may provide documentation that schools can consider when determining eligibility for accommodations or special education services. While school districts make their own decisions regarding eligibility, our reports include detailed findings and recommendations that can be valuable in educational planning and support.
Will my child receive a diagnosis?
Not every evaluation results in a diagnosis. Our goal is to understand your teen's strengths, challenges, and the factors contributing to their concerns. Some teens meet criteria for one or more diagnoses, while others benefit most from recommendations for treatment, school supports, or additional services. We believe the most important outcome is helping families gain clarity and develop a plan for moving forward.
What is the difference between a screening and a full Psychological Evaluation?
A screener is a brief tool used to identify whether symptoms of a condition, such as ADHD or autism, may be present and whether further evaluation is recommended. Screeners can be helpful as a first step, but they are not designed to provide a diagnosis on their own.
A comprehensive psychological evaluation is much more in-depth. It combines clinical interviews, developmental history, behavioral observations, standardized testing, and information from multiple sources to understand the full picture. Because ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression, trauma, learning differences, sleep problems, and executive functioning concerns can share similar symptoms, a comprehensive evaluation helps reduce the risk of both missed diagnoses and incorrect diagnoses.
The goal is not simply to determine whether a diagnosis applies, but to understand why your teen is struggling and provide individualized recommendations for treatment, school support, and next steps.
Still have questions? We're happy to help. Contact our office to schedule a confidential consultation, and we'll answer your questions, discuss your concerns, and help determine whether a comprehensive psychological evaluation is the right next step for your teen.
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