Have you scheduled a psychological assessment at Pathways Psychology LLC? To ensure the best experience possible, click on each tip to read more about how to prepare. Then read on below for more on what to expect.
Complete your paperwork.
Enter your client portal and complete the requested paperwork at least one week before your first meeting. The paperwork may take you more than an hour, and you can save it and return to it later if needed.
Gather your health and academic records.
These can include report cards, college transcripts, previous psychological testing reports, and health records from professional providers. Pathways Psychology LLC may request other records on a case-by-case basis. For fastest service, upload these documents to your client portal. Contact Pathways Psychology LLC if you are having trouble gathering your records.
Talk to your doctor.
Certain medications (particularly stimulants) can significantly affect your testing results. They can even invalidate the results of your tests, resulting in wasted money and time. If you take stimulant medication, consult with your prescriber about safe ways to temporarily stop using this medication during testing. Please do this at least two weeks in advance of your first appointment.
Request absence verifications from us.
If you will miss work or class for your scheduled assessment meetings, and you need documentation for an excused absence, we can provide written confirmation of your appointments. Contact us so that we can prepare absence verifications for you.
Ask a trusted person to help provide information about you.
When conducting an assessment, psychologists often gather information about you from multiple sources, in order to obtain a detailed understanding of your past and present life. This occurs only if you give your willing permission. If it feels safe and comfortable to you, talk to someone who knows you well about your plans to be tested, and ask them if they will provide information about you. Choose people whom you trust. These people should include:
1) People who took care of you when you were little – they are often valuable sources of information about your childhood symptoms and behavior. You will be asked about your childhood in detail during the clinical interview. This could be a parent, guardian, coach, or teacher.
2) People who know you well now – they are often valuable sources of information about your present functioning. This could be a caregiver, sibling, parent, roommate, teacher, therapist, or close friend.
Discuss any deadlines with us.
Do you need your psychological assessment to obtain accommodations for an exam? Do you need to provide your employer with a time-sensitive explanation for an employment concern? If you need your assessment completed by a particular date, inform your psychologist at least two weeks before your first appointment. Assessments take a minimum of two weeks to complete, and though we will do our best to accommodate your needs, they may take longer. Please note that Pathways Psychology LLC will not guarantee any specific completion date or timeline for an assessment. We do guarantee a respectful and compassionate experience and a high-quality report at the end of the process.
Discuss fees and payment with us.
Check, money order, or electronic transfer is preferred for psychological assessments. Credit card payments will incur an additional $25 fee. Payment in full is required at the beginning of your first appointment. If you need to pay by credit card, or in installments, please discuss this with Pathways Psychology LLC before your first appointment.
Pathways Psychology LLC is an “out of network” provider, meaning we do not directly bill insurance plans. You are required to pay your fees in full at the start of your assessment process. After testing is complete, you will receive a “superbill” that you can submit to your health insurance provider if you wish to request reimbursement. We strongly recommend that you discuss your out-of-network benefits with your insurer.
Updated fees are listed on our Services page.
Set yourself up for success on testing days.
a. Try and get a good night’s sleep the day before testing!
b. Start the morning the way you typically do, in terms of breakfast, coffee/tea, exercise, and medications (though please see the note above about stimulants).
c. You may be tired after interview/testing sessions. You are putting in a lot of mental work! Don’t plan long drives or important events on these days.
What can I expect during my psychological assessment?
What happens during an psychological assessment?
Your first meeting includes an in-depth interview to learn more about your history and current concerns. After the interview, we focus on formal testing. A comprehensive assessment typically requires two to four testing sessions, sometimes more. Each session lasts between two and five hours.
You will also be asked to complete questionnaires in your own time, and to provide copies of medical, educational, and/or previous testing records. We also often ask for your permission to speak to someone who knows you well in order to learn more about you.
After you finish testing activities, your part is mostly complete. We will analyze the data and write your report. We may contact you to ask additional questions as we analyze data. Typically, we send you a draft of the parts of your report. We may often consult with colleagues about your case, but will never use identifying information about you. We will meet one last time to review the final report in detail and discuss any questions you may have.
What are my scheduling options?
Pathways Psychology LLC currently schedules testing appointments on Mondays, Wednesdays and/or Fridays between 9:30am and 3:00pm. At this time we cannot typically provide testing on Tuesdays and Thursdays, or after 3pm.
How long does an assessment take?
We do not guarantee any specific completion date or timeline for any evaluation. A comprehensive evaluation (any evaluation that includes multiple tests; for example, an ADHD evaluation) may take several weeks or more from start to finish. The process requires time to complete the testing, analyze your data, gather more information (as needed), and write your report. We typically consult with other licensed psychologists to improve the quality of your evaluation, and this may add additional time. You will receive a high-quality report at the end of this process.
More questions?
Contact us at 540-602-5757 or at aliya@pathwayspsychology.net.
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