What is a Psychological Evaluation?
A psychological evaluation offers families a clearer understanding of their child’s strengths, challenges, and presenting concerns. This insight empowers parents to make informed decisions about how to best support their child’s growth, learning, and emotional well‑being.
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Parents often seek an evaluation when they are wondering things like:
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Why is my child struggling to connect with peers?
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What is contributing to the behaviors that are affecting my child’s functioning at school or at home?
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How can I better support my child’s learning and success at school?
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Does my child have autism spectrum disorder, attention‑deficit/hyperactivity disorder, a learning difference, or another underlying concern?
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Collaborative and Therapeutic Assessments for Youth
I provide comprehensive psychological evaluations using a highly collaborative, family‑centered approach. My assessments are designed to support families who have questions about their child’s development, behavior, social–emotional functioning, or learning profile. Collaboration is woven throughout the entire process: parents are involved from the initial consultation through the testing sessions and the final feedback meeting. To better understand how your child functions in different settings, I may also collaborate with other important people in your child's life (i.e. psychiatrist, teachers, grandparent, etc.) I maintain an open, ongoing communication to ensure that the evaluation feels supportive and transparent. The results of the assessment help guide meaningful next steps—such as school accommodations, therapeutic services, or community resources—to help each child or teen thrive.
Evaluations Offered
Autism
Autism testing includes a standardized, play-based observational measure called the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2), along with norm-referenced rating scales completed by parents and teachers. Age-appropriate self-report questionnaires may also be administered to the child. Together, these measures provide a developmentally informed understanding of the child's strengths and needs. ($2300)
ADHD
ADHD evaluations incorporate semi-structured clinical interviews with the child, and/or parents, standardized measures of attention and executive functioning, and norm-referenced measures of social-emotional and behavioral functioning. A multi-informant and multi-method approach is utilized, with parents and teachers offering valuable insight into the child's symptoms and day-to-day functioning. ($1800)
Testing Fee Includes: Direct testing time with the child/adolescent (ranges 2-6 hours), records review, collaborating with school professionals (if necessary), scoring and interpretation of report, time for report writing, and the feedback session. Families should expect this process to be around 2-3 appointments to include testing appointment(s) and feedback.
Comprehensive
Comprehensive psychological evaluations integrate a range of evidence-based assessment tools, including measures of cognitive, academic, adaptive, attentional, and executive functioning. The process involves semi-structured clinical interviews with parents and with their child. Standardized rating scales are also completed by caregivers and teachers. Comprehensive evaluations help to support diagnostic clarification for neurodevelopmental conditions such as an autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and specific learning disorders (including dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia), as well as clarify co-occurring conditions such as anxiety, mood, and/or behavioral disorders. ($3000)
Testing Process
(What to expect before, during, and after testing)
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Initial Intake
At the initial intake, I meet with parent(s) only to obtain developmental history, background information, and discuss current concerns for your child. I recommend that parents bring any prior evaluations, school reports such as report cards, 504 plans, FIE, or IEP documents to this meeting. This appointment can be scheduled in-person or online.
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Testing Session
The testing appointment is conducted in person and may be completed in separate sessions depending on the child's needs and the length of the testing (ranges 2 - 6 hours).
This appointment is the testing administration and I will meet individually with your child. For very young children (18 months to 3 years old), parents may also be present during the test administration. Parents of older children and teens typically remain in the waiting room to complete rating scales.
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Feedback
I will score, interpret, and write up your child's report which will include recommendations for next steps. I will meet with parent(s) and/or child for a feedback session to provide results of the testing and recommendations for your child. Parents receive a completed report to take home with them at this appointment. This appointment can be scheduled in-person or online.
How to prepare my child for testing:
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Ensure your child gets a full night's sleep before the appointment
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Have your child eat a full and balanced breakfast/meal before coming to the testing appointment
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Bring Snacks and water
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Parents often ask, "How do I explain what a psychological evaluation is to my child?".
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​Explain: "You will meet with Dr. Ha and she will learn more about you by asking you some questions about school, friends, and feelings. She will also ask you to do some activities together, which may be easy or hard for you, but just try your best! I will be in the waiting room completing questionnaires while I wait for you."
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Read more here
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Testing FAQ's
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1. How long does testing take?
Evaluations range from 2-6 hours and can be broken up into shorter appointments as necessary.
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2. When will I receive a report?
Depending on when teachers' responses are received, it may take 2-3 weeks after the last day of testing to receive the final report.
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3. When is payment due?
Payment is due at the time of testing.