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Psychological Assessments & Evaluations
Culturally-Sensitive
Psychological Testing
Psychological assessment can be a helpful and powerful tool to better understand yourself. Our goal in psychological assessment is to do just that: Help you better understand yourself, using a collaborative, holistic, thorough, and culturally-responsive approach.
We understand that people are often eager for answers. Why am I struggling with attention or memory? Why has motivation been so difficult for me lately? It may seem easy to place diagnostic labels on our experiences, but most of the symptoms with which people of all ages struggle can be signs of any number of concerns. We know that systems of oppression and marginalization as well as biases in testing (and in the process itself) sometimes make it difficult to receive an adequate diagnosis; and, it is difficult to develop a helpful path forward (such as psychotherapy; educational accommodations) without an adequate diagnosis. Psychologists well-trained in culturally-responsive psychological assessment and diagnosis are in a position to help clients sort through their symptoms and difficulties to best understand the nature of clients' concerns, and to provide individualized recommendations based on the information gathered.
At the Aguirre Center for Inclusive Psychotherapy, we aim to work collaboratively with you throughout the entire assessment process to help ensure not only that the process is as comfortable for you as possible, but also to help ensure that your questions are answered, and that you leave the assessment process feeling as though you have a more comprehensive picture of your symptoms, functioning, and needs.
All of our psychological assessment services are performed by Dr. Melanie Wilcox who has extensive experience in the assessment and treatment of adolescents and adults with a variety of clinical presentations particularly in the area of learning disorders, ADHD, and career exploration. As a professor at Augusta University, she teaches courses on psychological assessment and provides supervision and training in the areas of psychometry and assessment. Dr. Wilcox brings a passion for culturally-sensitive psychological assessment and treatment to all of her work.
Psychological Testing & Assessments Offered
A psychological assessment typically seeks to explain any difficulties or issues an individual is experiencing in their life. Because issues and problems vary with each person, assessments will be tailored to the patient's situation. Different types of assessments that we offer at ACIP include:
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Learning Disorder (reading disability, dyslexia, dyscalculia, disorders of written expression)
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Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
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Intellectual Assessment
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Psychological Evaluations (e.g., the effects of anxiety, depression, trauma)
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Psychoeducational Assessments
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Personality Assessments
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Gender Affirmative Evaluations (for HRT or Surgery)
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Career Exploration
Psychological testing can be used help clarify a diagnosis and evaluate the patient's strengths and weaknesses. Through psychological testing and evaluation, our psychologists can accurately diagnose psychological conditions and provide tailored treatment recommendations. This type of evaluation is an invaluable tool for understanding and treating psychological disorders. The evaluation and recommendations provided from an assessment can inform and increase the effectiveness of a patient's work with their therapist or psychiatrists.
What To Expect
A thorough, collaborative approach to assessment does take time. The assessment process will look slightly different for each client, but clients can generally expect to meet for approximately five to eight sessions from beginning to end (*except potentially shorter evaluations such as career exploration or Gender Affirmative Evaluations).
PLEASE NOTE: All of our assessment services are provided via telehealth. You will need access to a stable internet connection, a laptop or desktop computer with a camera as well as a mobile device (e.g., smart phone; tablet), and a quiet, well-lit, private space in which to meet by telehealth that includes a flat surface on which you can write (e.g., a desk or table). If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to Dr. Wilcox.
Fees for Testing
Fees may differ slightly depending on the type of evaluation. Generally, our comprehensive evaluation fee is $2,500. This includes psychoeducational testing & evaluations for:
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Learning Disorders
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ADHD
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Intellectual Assessments
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Psychoeducational Assessments
Shorter evaluations are typically charged by the hour, at $225 an hour. This includes:
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Gender Affirmative Evaluations
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Bariatric Surgery Evaluations
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Career Exploration
A 50% deposit is required on the day of testing, with the balance due at the feedback appointment. Accepted forms of payment include HSA, FSA, and credit cards. We do offer sliding scale services for those in need of financial assistance.
Please Note: Our clinicians are not contracted with any health insurance panels. Most insurance companies do not typically cover “learning” or “educational” assessments such as testing for learning disabilities, nor do they pay for psychoeducational assessments of academic achievement, cognitive (IQ) testing, or personality inventories. However, you can use your HSA or FSA account and depending on your particular insurance plan, you may be able to submit documentation for Out of Network benefits. Dr. Wilcox will provide you with all the needed documentation to send to your insurance for reimbursement.
If you have any questions about the assessment process or are ready to schedule a phone consultation to discuss your testing needs, please don't hesitate to contact Dr. Melanie Wilcox.