Question 1

What is the difference between a psychologist and neuropsychologist?

Accepted Answer

A psychologist is a mental health professional who specializes in understanding and treating emotional and behavioral issues. They may provide therapy, assessment, or other interventions to help individuals manage their mental health. A psychologist has a doctoral degree in clinical, counseling, or school psychology.

A neuropsychologist is a licensed psychologist (i.e., doctoral-level provider) who has specialized training in brain-behavior relationships. A neuropsychologist has knowledge about and experience with subjects such as neuroscience and neuroanatomy, the impacts of brain structure/processes on behavior (and vice versa), and a range of developmental, genetic, neurological, and medical conditions.

While both psychologists and neuropsychologists have advanced training in psychology, neuropsychologists have additional expertise in the brain and its functions. They use specialized assessments to evaluate an individual's cognitive, emotional, and behavioral domains.

As a pediatric neuropsychologist, I have expertise in assessing children with a range of concerns and diagnoses, including the following: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, epilepsy, brain injuries, genetic differences, movement disorders (e.g., tics), neurocognitive effects of cancer treatments, and other medical and neurological conditions. I work with families to develop individualized treatment plans to support a child's cognitive, emotional, and behavioral health.

Question 2

Do you prescribe medication?

Accepted Answer

As a clinical psychologist, I am not licensed to prescribe medication. However, I can work closely with your child's pediatrician or psychiatrist to coordinate care and provide recommendations for medications if necessary.

Question 3

Do you provide therapy services?

Accepted Answer

No, I do not provide therapy services. However, I can provide referrals to qualified therapists or mental health professionals if needed. If you have any questions about the evaluation process or need guidance on finding appropriate resources for your child, please feel free to contact me.

Question 4

What ages do you see in your practice?

Accepted Answer

I work with children as young as 2 years of age, and can complete testing with individuals up to age 21. Evaluations are tailored to a child/adolescent/adult's age and are often much shorter for children under age 5.

Question 5

Does my child need a neuropsychological evaluation?

Accepted Answer

A neuropsychological evaluation is recommended when there are concerns about a child's cognitive, behavioral, or emotional development. This type of evaluation can provide valuable information about a child's strengths and weaknesses, as well as identify any underlying issues that may be affecting their ability to learn and function. Whether or not your child needs a neuropsychological evaluation depends on their specific situation. While a comprehensive assessment may be beneficial for some, for others a more focused evaluation is appropriate. As other alternatives, I may suggest that you consult with a different type of provider, pursue testing through the school, and/or try specific recommendations/strategies before moving forward with an evaluation through my practice. If you have concerns about your child's development, it is recommended that you schedule an initial consultation with me to determine if a neuropsychological evaluation is necessary.

Question 6

What areas are assessed as a part of a neuropsychological assessment?

Accepted Answer

A neuropsychological assessment is a comprehensive evaluation of a child's cognitive, behavioral, and emotional functioning. During the assessment, various areas of a child's development are evaluated, including:

1. Intelligence and cognitive abilities:

Intellectual abilities, attention and concentration skills, memory, language skills, and problem-solving abilities are typically assessed. A child's executive functioning skills, such as planning, organization, and decision-making abilities, are also evaluated.

2. Academic skills:

Assessment of academic skills usually includes a child's reading, writing, and math abilities. When academic skills are evaluated, I look for any learning disabilities or academic weaknesses that may be impacting a child's academic performance.

3. Social and emotional functioning:

I assess a child's social and emotional functioning, including their ability to regulate their emotions, interact with peers, and understand social cues.

By assessing multiple domains, I can provide a detailed understanding of a child's strengths and weaknesses. This information can be used to develop targeted interventions and support services.

Question 7

What is the actual assessment process like?

Accepted Answer

The assessment process typically involves several appointments with me.

1.) The first appointment is an initial clinical interview, during which I will gather information about your child's background, developmental history, and any current concerns or symptoms. This appointment is usually completed with parents only, but there may be times that it would be helpful for your child to join. We will discuss this during our first phone consult. Clinical interviews are completed via telehealth, unless there is a preference to be seen in the office. Before the clinical interview, I will send you some forms and questionnaires to complete prior to our meeting. These will tell you about the assessment process, and will provide me more information about your child as we start the evaluation.

2.) The next appointment(s) will be the direct testing sessions. These may take several hours and involve a variety of tests and assessments. I will work with your child one-on-one in my office. The testing may include completion of some paper-and-pencil tasks, answering questions, working on a tablet, completing some school-like tasks, looking at pictures, and solving problems and puzzles. The amount of testing and types of tests utilized vary based on the questions we are looking to explore.

3.) After the evaluation is complete, I will meet with you on a different day to discuss the results and provide recommendations for treatment and support. This appointment is completed via telehealth, unless there is a preference to be seen in the office. Prior to the appointment, we will determine if your child will be present for the feedback session and how that may look.

4.) Approximately one to two weeks after the feedback session, you will receive a written report outlining results, impressions, and recommendations. You are welcome to share this report with anyone you wish. I would also be happy to review results with others involved in your child's care (e.g., a physician, psychiatrist, school staff, other treatment provider), only with your permission.

You are always welcome to reach out to me with any questions or needs following the evaluation. We can touch base about resources, or schedule additional follow-up sessions for a variety of purposes. I am also available to attend school meetings if desired.

Question 8

Do you have telehealth appointments?

Accepted Answer

Yes, I offer telehealth appointments for the initial clinical interview, the feedback session, and any follow-up appointments. Telehealth appointments are conducted through a secure online platform. The direct testing sessions with your child cannot be completed virtually and need to occur in the office.

Question 9

How can my child benefit from an evaluation?

Accepted Answer

An evaluation can provide valuable insights into your child's cognitive, social, emotional, and behavioral functioning. This information can help identify any areas of strength or weakness, and guide recommendations for interventions or accommodations that can support your child's success in school and in life. It can also provide insight into any underlying conditions or diagnoses that may be impacting your child's functioning, allowing for appropriate treatment and support. Additionally, early identification of any learning or developmental challenges can help prevent future academic and social difficulties.

Question 10

What should I tell my child about the assessment?  Is there anything I should do to prepare them?

Accepted Answer

It's important to prepare your child for an assessment by explaining what to expect in a child-friendly way. Let them know that I am a doctor who specializes in understanding how their brain works, and that I will be asking them questions and doing activities to help me learn more about them. It may also be helpful to let them know that this is not a test that they can pass or fail and there are no right or wrong answers. Rather, the testing is a way for me to better understand their strengths and weaknesses (which we all have!) so that I can help them in the best way possible.

Here are some other tips and thoughts about how to best prepare your child:

Encourage your child to be honest and try their best during the assessment. Some of the tasks will feel easy, and some will feel challenging - this is normal and everyone who participates in testing feels this way.  
You can let your child know that I am a doctor who specializes in feelings, behaviors, and learning. I always make it clear, with younger children especially, that there are no medical procedures in my office. So, no shots or "pokes," no medicines, and no brain scans. Your child (and you) are welcome to call me Cassie or Dr. Cassie. I want your child to feel as comfortable and at ease as possible.
If your child is aware of some of their struggles, then it can be helpful to tie the assessment to their understanding and language. For example, if reading is challenging for your child, you may explain that I am an expert in reading, and I have worked with many kids who have the same struggles. My job is to help you gain tools and create a plan to help with any problem areas.
You can share some of the activities that we may be doing together: answering questions, doing some school-like tasks, looking at pictures and solving puzzles, reading and writing, playing, and working on an iPad.
It's helpful to make sure your child is well-rested and has had a good breakfast before the assessment.  
Your child will be able to take breaks as needed during the assessment. Feel free to bring water and snacks to the office for the testing day.

Always feel free to reach out to me before your appointment to discuss any questions or concerns.

Question 11

What is the cost of an evaluation?

Accepted Answer

Beginning Jun 24, 2024, my fees will be on a flat basis:

Services:
Neuropsychological Evaluation
Psychological and Psychoeducational Assessments
Focused ADHD, Autism, and Dyslexia Evaluations
Developmental Assessments

Based on your child’s age, the evaluation fee will fall into one of two categories:

Patients 5 years old and under
All services consist of an intake interview, review of records and consultation with collateral sources, test administration and scoring, feedback session(s), and the final written report. Included in this flat rate, I am also available to participate in a virtual or phone meeting with your child’s special education and/or school team if desired.

Total Cost of Evaluation: $2,800

Evaluation Billing Schedule
Intake Fee: $400
Testing, Feedback, and Reporting: $2,400*
*Billed in two installments, 50% due post-testing, remaining 50% due post feedback session.

Optional School Observation: $400**
**Additional billing with post feedback session

Patients 6 years old and over
All services consist of an intake interview, review of records and consultation with collateral sources, test administration and scoring, feedback session(s), and the final written report(s). Included in this flat rate, I am also available to participate in a virtual or phone meeting with your child’s school team if desired (e.g., IEP or 504 Plan meetings).

Total Cost of Evaluation: $3,600

Evaluation Billing Schedule
Intake Fee: $600
Testing, Feedback, and Reporting: $3,000*
*Billed in two installments, 50% due post-testing, remaining 50% due post feedback session.

Optional School Observation: $400**
**Additional billing with post feedback session

Question 12

Do you take insurance?

Accepted Answer

No, I do not take insurance. However, I can provide a superbill at the end of the evaluation that you can submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.

It is always best to check with your insurance company beforehand to see what their policies are regarding out-of-network providers, and be sure to let them know I am out-of-network. For your reference, these are the specific CPT billing codes that are used for psychological and neuropsychological evaluations:

Psychological Evaluation CPT Codes
Initial Interview: 90791
Test Administration and Scoring: 96136 and 96137
Feedback and Report Writing: 96130 and 96131

Neuropsychological Evaluation CPT Codes
Initial Interview: 96116 and 96121
Test Administration and Scoring: 96136 and 96137
Feedback and Report Writing: 96132 and 96133

Developmental/Behavioral Testing CPT Codes
(These codes are used less frequently than the ones above, and are generally reserved for very young children or brief, focused developmental evaluations)
96112 and 96113

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