Testing

Psychological testing and neuropsychological testing are ways to better understand how a person thinks, feels, and responds in everyday situations. These tests involve answering questions or doing activities with a trained clinician in order to learn about your emotions, problem-solving, memory, attention, and more. It’s a way to explore how your brain uniquely works, what comes naturally to you, and where you might need extra support—all with the goal of helping you to grow, succeed, and feel your best.

All sorts of people! Really anyone who wants to understand themselves or someone they care about better. Sometimes adults or kids seek out testing because of specific challenges with emotions, focus, learning, memory, or relationships. Other times testing is required for work or school. Or maybe you are just curious to know more about yourself. While no diagnosis is guaranteed through testing, it is a great way to discover more about what makes your mind unique.

Lots of things! Our minds are wonderfully complex and unique, and testing is a way to gain insight into that complexity. Though testing may uncover a number of conditions (anxiety, depression, ADHD, learning disabilities, autism, memory challenges, and more) it is important to remember that those only describe part of how your brain works and relates with the world. The goal of testing is to provide a well-rounded picture of how your mind works, empowering you with tools and understanding to support your personal growth and well-being.

Testing is a collaborative and supportive process typically split into three parts: an interview, the testing session, and a feedback meeting to review your results.

1. The interview, which usually lasts about 45 minutes to an hour, is scheduled up to two weeks before testing. During this time, you’ll talk about concerns, goals, and important history with the examiner. With your permission, we may also conduct phone interviews or questionnaires with pertinent individuals, such as teachers, partners, therapists, or family members to gain more insight and understanding.
2. The testing session itself can last from one to several hours, depending on the type of testing. You may do activities like solving puzzles, testing your memory, playing problem-solving games, and working with objects like blocks. Some tests can be done remotely, while others need to be done in person, but a trained examiner will guide you the whole way.* Sometimes, parents, caregivers, spouses, or other loved ones can stay nearby for extra support, but usually the testing time is just for you and the examiner, so that you can stay focused.
3. Afterward, the examiner compiles everything into a detailed report. In a follow-up feedback meeting, which lasts 45 minutes to an hour, you’ll go over the results, gain insights, and work together on a plan to support growth, learning, and well-being.

* Please note, we’re currently offering testing services only in California at this time.

It’s up to you! You have control over who sees your or your child’s results. That said, it can be helpful to share the information from psychological or neuropsychological testing with those who can help you create and implement the best plan for you or your child. For example, schools can use the results of testing to better understand a student’s unique needs and provide the right support to help them succeed, sometimes creating what’s called a “504 plan” or an “Individualized Education Plan” (IEP). A parent, caregiver, or partner can use the information to better understand how to best support the person who was tested at home. Your results can also help a therapist or other healthcare professionals focus treatment on areas of greatest support or growth.

No matter who you decide to share your results with, working together as a team will help everyone—parents, teachers, employers, therapists, other family members, and more—provide the right support for you or your child!

It depends on the type of testing you receive and for what purpose testing is needed. Unfortunately, we are unable to take insurance at this time, so the cost of testing is paid out-of-pocket. Sometimes, your insurance company will be able to reimburse some or most of this out-of-pocket cost, so it is a good idea to check about this with your insurance company about this. They may ask for a pre-authorization form, though, so be sure to reach out to them before testing starts.

Please fill out the intake form linked below, and we'll get in touch within 3 business days of receiving it. Your care and trust are really important to us, and we appreciate the opportunity to partner with you in this process. We hope to make you feel supported every step of the way, so please contact us if you have any questions. We’re excited to connect and help you with the next steps!