Mood, Personality, and Behavioral Evaluations
Collaborative, family centered assessment services in-person and via telehealth throughout California.
Psychological Testing for:
Depression, Bipolar, Anxiety, Trauma, Personality, and Behavioral Concerns
Depression is a condition in which an individual experiences depressed mood and/or a loss of interest or pleasure. Children with depression can experience mood swings, irritability, tiredness, disinterest and disengagement. They often struggle to concentrate and maintain focus. Children with depression sometimes discuss feeling worthless or “bad” and can also experience thoughts about death and suicide. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health Report (2019) found that 15.7% of teens age 12-17 experience depression.
Children can experience anxiety in different ways. Some children have generalized anxiety, meaning they experience worry and anxiety in many situations, whereas other children have anxiety that is specific to certain situations. Anxiety in children can be related to: separating from a parent/guardian, social situations, school, or specific fears (ex. animals, getting a shot, heights). Your child might be experiencing anxiety if they are extremely clingy, have frequent tantrums, don’t speak or engage in limited speech outside of home, complain of stomach aches, refuse to attend school or avoid certain situations. 7.1% of children 3-17 years old are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.
Bipolar Disorder is a disorder in which an individual struggles with alternating periods of depression and mania/hypomania. During a manic or hypomanic episode a person might be moody, irritable, impulsive, have rapid speech, or have self-inflated views. 2.9% of adolescents are diagnosed with bipolar. Bipolar is very uncommon in pre-adolescent children.
Trauma / PTSD occurs when a person experiences an event in which they fear for their safety or for their life or that of another person or people. Exposure to trauma during childhood impacts brain development and functioning. Some long-term impacts of trauma on children are: behavior problems, difficulty focusing in school, sleep problems, difficulty in relationships, a sense of helplessness, increased fearfulness, and heightened fight, flight, or freeze response. Children who have experienced trauma are significantly more likely to develop depression, anxiety, or substance use disorders.
If you are concerned about your child’s mental health, psychological testing can provide you with answers. Some common questions parents ask me:
Is my child depressed?
Is my child at risk for harming themselves?
How do I help my child with their anxiety?
Why does my child act like __________?
How are my child’s symptoms impacting their cognitive, academic, executive, and behavioral functioning?
My child experienced a traumatic event. How is this impacting them? What can I do to help them?
What underlying factors are contributing to/exacerbating their difficulties?
What type of treatments, programs, and interventions will best help my child?
How can I help my child to have better friendships?
How can I support my child at home?
What support does my child need at school?
I always provide children and teenagers the opportunities to ask their own questions. Some common questions children ask me are:
Am I smart?
How can I have better friends?
Why am I scared?
What job would I be good at?
How can I do better in school?
Why do I get in fights?
How can I feel better?
Fees: Testing is customized based on the questions you’d like answered by testing, therefore the testing fee will be determined once we define the scope of testing. I offer a sliding scale based on income, if needed. I do not take insurance, however I will provide a copy of your paid invoice for you to use to get reimbursement from your insurance company.
Your Right to a Good Faith Estimate: You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost. Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services. You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees. Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service. If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-800-985-3059
Service Areas: San Francisco, Sausalito, Mill Valley, Corte Madera, San Rafael, Novato, San Leandro, Oakland, Berkeley, Albany, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, Windsor, Healdsburg.
Get in touch
If you have questions about psychological testing or want to schedule an appointment with me, please complete this form. I look forward to working with you!