Psychological testing is designed to help you and your care team put together the best treatment plan possible. At Mind Body Co-op, we offer in-network neuropsychological testing and evaluations, making it accessible for everyone. Maybe you have difficulty maintaining relationships due to angry outbursts that you can’t control. Perhaps you haven’t been able to go to work for the past few days because you can’t get out of bed. You might be having intrusive, anxious thoughts that are preventing you from feeling safe anywhere you go. You know these symptoms are a problem, but you don’t know their source, and they point in the direction of several different potential psychological disorders. The underlying cause of problems isn’t always clear.

For example, if a child is having trouble in school, do they have a reading difference such as dyslexia, or an attention issue such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)? Difficulty with impulse control? Psychological tests and evaluations allow a psychologist and your treatment team to understand the nature of the problem and to figure out the best way to address it.

Tests and Assessments:

• Psychological Testing
• Neuropsychological Testing
• Psychological Evaluations

Reasons for Psychological testing and assessment may include:

• To assess the presence of an attentional disorder or another learning disability
• To understand the severity and specific symptoms associated with an individual’s emotional distress
• To assess for neurocognitive decline, including memory loss
• To better comprehend changes in one’s behaviors (e.g. increased impulsivity, substance use)
• To provide direction with treatment plans in the therapy setting
• To provide physicians additional guidance with medical decisions
• To learn an individual’s intellectual abilities including their strengths and weaknesses

WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING?

Psychological testing, also known as psychological assessment, is a tool used by psychologists to diagnose and guide treatment. The evaluation is designed to measure an individual’s behavior and other dimensions of personality to better understand issues related to interpersonal relationships, emotions, and thinking patterns. Many common mental health symptoms can be attributed to several different sources, and psychological testing can provide a diagnosis and recommendations for treatment. Tests are standardized, meaning test takers are evaluated in a similar or “standardized” way. Additionally, they are often norm-referenced, meaning test scores are compared to a selected set of test takers based on factors such as age or grade level. We often use these helpful tools at Mind Body Co-op to connect our patients with what they need to live healthier lives.

WHAT IS THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS?

At Mind Body Co-op, all in-network psychological evaluations typically take place in three phases.

Phase 1:

During the Initial Assessment Appointment, our clinical psychologist will meet with you for an in-depth interview to gather a thorough history, request preauthorization from your insurance company, and understand the reason you are seeking an evaluation. Obtaining this information will help us provide the necessary details for your insurance company to authorize the in-network psychological evaluation. This groundwork helps your psychologist choose which tests to administer. In some cases, a trained technician supervised by our psychologist may administer the tests.

• The psychologist will need a thorough overview of your presenting concerns. Be prepared to answer questions about all aspects of your history and development, including:
  • medical conditions
  • developmental & educational history
  • family medical and mental health history
  • trauma history
  • work/educational background.

For those who might have difficulty recalling this information, having a family member or trusted individual present for this portion of the evaluation is helpful. 

• Share with your care team the results of any past neuropsychological, psychological, or academic testing. This includes records of any intellectual evaluation, psychoeducational evaluation, and multifactored evaluation (MFE). If your child has an individual education program (IEP), bring a copy of that as well.

• In addition, you will discuss the reason you are seeking the evaluation and answer any questions you have about the testing process. Testing time is determined by a variety of factors, but is usually between 2-6 hours and can be completed in one to two sessions, depending on the number of tests given.  You should have an idea of how long your testing will take before moving on to phase 2 and scheduling your testing dates with the psychologist.

Phase 2:

During this phase, you will visit our office at 30 N. Michigan Ave, where the psychologist will administer various tests to answer the testing question(s). This may include a combination of computerized tests along with oral and written measures. The specific tests will vary depending on your needs and referral requests and may include:

• Paper-and-pencil tasks
• Computerized tests
• Hands-on activities

Most people find some tests easy and others more challenging. You aren’t expected to get everything right, and no one “fails.” The purpose is to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Work as hard as possible on all the tests so the results are accurate and helpful.

There aren’t any risks related to neuropsychological tests. However, testing often takes several hours, which can leave some people feeling tired, overstimulated, or agitated. Plan for an easy dinner after the test. If your child is getting tested, don’t expect much from them for the rest of the day—and be gentle with yourself, too.

Phase 2.5:

Following the tests, the psychologist will score the results, combining your history, results, and behavioral observations into a formal report with recommendations. Most tests are standardized and norm-referenced, meaning your results are compared with those of others who share similar characteristics, such as age or educational background.

What should you do in Phase 2.5?

It usually takes 2-4 weeks for your neuropsychologist to score the tests, interpret the results, and make recommendations. During this time, focus on daily tasks and activities to minimize worry. Neuropsychological testing provides valuable data to inform your next steps. Together with your healthcare team, you’ll be closer to necessary interventions and therapies.

Phase 3: The Feedback Session

The feedback session is a personalized consultation with the psychologist, and involves the following elements:

1. Reflection on the concerns that brought you to the evaluation and any further relevant discussion around those concerns
2. A review of the report including a review of your history to confirm the accuracy of the details
3. A clear and streamlined explanation of the testing process including how “scores” are obtained and how they are meaningful/interpreted
4. The psychologist then describes her/his tailored analysis of the data that has been obtained in this particular evaluation, using the framework of the presenting concerns to organize the presentation of data and to guide the flow of the conversation. This data analysis involves both:
   1. Understanding overall test scores in relation to broader “norms” from the general population
   2. A closer look into your individual test score profile
5. A discussion of the aspects of the cognitive profile that contribute to an understanding of the presenting concerns
   1. Reflecting quantitative data that corroborate areas of strength
   2. Acknowledging the areas of relative weakness/current concerns and a discussion on how the test data suggests the outcome
6. Discussion of a diagnosis
7. Based on the results, the psychologists may suggest specific interventions, therapies, or accommodations for your daily life or work.
8. Collaboration to generate a general outline and specific plan for the next steps
   1. Goals, possible interventions, therapies, medication or accommodations for your daily life or work
   2. What needs to happen to get there?
   3. What help/support will be needed?
   4. How/where to get those supports?
   5. Practical steps for right now
9. Options for ongoing consultation with the psychologist is available as needed.

Make a Referral or request an assessment or learn more about Beth Elia, PsyD here.