Diagnostic Evaluation

Comprehensive Psychological Assessment for Adolescents & Adults

A comprehensive psychological assessment can help clarify the diagnostic and personal factors contributing to emotional, behavioral, or functional difficulties. Unlike evaluations focused specifically on ADHD, autism, or learning differences, this type of assessment takes a broader look at overall psychological functioning, including mood, anxiety, personality functioning, coping patterns, and other factors that may be affecting daily life, relationships, or treatment progress.

Many people seek this type of evaluation when previous diagnoses or treatments haven’t quite fit, when symptoms are complex or overlapping, or when they want a clearer, more complete picture of what’s going on before deciding on next steps.

Evaluations are individualized based on your history, current concerns, and the specific questions you are hoping to answer. The goal is not simply to administer a series of tests, but to understand your experiences within the context of your developmental, psychological, and personal history.

The evaluation typically includes a clinical interview, review of relevant records, standardized testing and questionnaires, a comprehensive written report, and a feedback session. The specific scope and fee will be discussed before testing begins.

Questions an evaluation may aim to answer:

• What is contributing to my current emotional or behavioral difficulties?
• Do my symptoms best fit a mood, anxiety, or other diagnostic picture?
• Why haven’t previous treatments or diagnoses fully addressed my concerns?
• Are there personality or coping patterns that are affecting my relationships or daily functioning?
• Could co-occurring conditions be complicating my symptoms?
• What are my psychological strengths and areas of vulnerability?
• What type of treatment or support is likely to be most helpful?
• Would diagnostic clarification help me and my treatment providers move forward more effectively?

General Comprehensive Assessment vs. Neuropsychological Evaluation

These evaluations are comprehensive psychological and diagnostic assessments, but they are not formal neuropsychological evaluations.

A general comprehensive psychological assessment focuses primarily on diagnostic clarification, emotional and behavioral functioning, personality factors, and the psychological picture as a whole. It is not intended to provide a comprehensive assessment of neurological or neurocognitive functioning.

A formal neuropsychological evaluation is broader and may involve extensive assessment of areas such as memory, attention, executive functioning, language, processing speed, visuospatial abilities, and other aspects of cognitive and neurological functioning.

If your primary questions relate to diagnostic clarification or understanding your overall psychological functioning, a general comprehensive psychological assessment may be an appropriate fit.

If your concerns involve more extensive questions about cognitive or neurological functioning, a neuropsychological evaluation may be more appropriate. We can discuss your concerns during the initial consultation and determine what type of evaluation would provide the most useful information.