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What to Expect
Our Process
Step 1
Request an Appointment
We understand the importance of timely assessments, so we strive to schedule a date that fits your availability. We aim to provide prompt access to our services and will post updates about our scheduling timelines when possible.
Step 2
Diagnostic Interview
The intake session typically lasts about an hour and includes a discussion to explore presenting challenges and personal strengths. Depending on the client's age, this session may involve the patient along with parents or caregivers to gather important background information.
Step 3
Testing Phase
The testing phase varies based on the client's age and the specific assessments required. It typically lasts about two hours but can range from one to four hours. This phase can include a cognitive assessment to evaluate intellectual processes and abilities, with additional tests selected based on the client's specific concerns. In some cases, a second testing appointment may be necessary to ensure a comprehensive evaluation.
Step 4
Feedback and Report
After the assessment, clients receive timely feedback and preliminary findings. In some cases, additional time may be needed to gather further information. We are committed to providing a comprehensive report after our feedback session, detailing assessment results and personalized recommendations to connect you with the appropriate support services.
Career, exploratory, forensic, seminary, and public safety assessments may involve a different evaluation process than our standard assessments. The specific procedures, timelines, and requirements for these assessments will be discussed in detail at the time of scheduling. Please contact our office for more information and to ensure the assessment meets your specific needs.
Appointment Day
On the day of testing, our goal is to create a calm, supportive environment where you or your child can perform comfortably. Testing typically takes place in one or more structured sessions and includes a variety of activities such as talking, problem-solving tasks, paper-and-pencil work, and computer-based measures. Breaks are built in as needed and requested. Snacks and water are available in our office. Our approach is flexible, strengths-based, and individualized, with an emphasis on helping each person feel understood, respected, and supported.
How to Prepare Your Child for Testing
Talking with your child ahead of time can help them feel more comfortable on testing day. We encourage families to describe the evaluation as a set of activities that help us understand how their brain works—what comes easily, what feels harder, and what kinds of support might be helpful. Rather than framing testing as “games” or “play,” this approach helps set clear and respectful expectations.
Let your child know there are no right or wrong answers, that breaks are available, and that it’s okay if some activities feel challenging. The goal is not perfection, but learning how to best support them at home, at school, and beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions
What If Testing Feels Hard?
It’s normal to have questions or worries about how testing will go. Whether you are coming in for your own evaluation or bringing your child, moments of fatigue, anxiety, frustration, or reduced engagement are meaningful and expected. We adjust pacing, offer breaks, and respond flexibly to support comfort and understanding.
What to Bring on Testing Day
Please bring any items that you or your child typically use or find helpful, such as glasses or hearing aids.
Water, snacks, and comfort items are welcome, and comfortable clothing is encouraged.
Water and light snacks are available in the office.
What Happens After Testing?
After testing is completed, results are carefully scored and integrated with background information to develop an individualized understanding of strengths and support needs. Findings and recommendations are reviewed during a feedback session, and a comprehensive written report summarizing the results is always provided, typically following the feedback session.
What Makes Our Approach Neurodiversity-Affirming?
We view differences as part of natural human variation. Our evaluations focus on understanding strengths, challenges, and support needs within real-world contexts, including for individuals who may mask in structured settings. We use flexible pacing while recognizing that effort, fatigue, sensory sensitivities, and variable performance are meaningful data. Our goal is not simply diagnosis, but a nuanced understanding that leads to practical, compassionate, and affirming recommendations.