Physically located in West Hartford, Connecticut.
Telehealth services available for individuals located in: AL, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, ME, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Comprehensive Psychological Evaluation
Comprehensive psychological evaluations help to better understand a person’s mental health, personality, emotional functioning, or patterns that may be affecting their day-to-day life.
A comprehensive psychological evaluation is designed to look beyond a single diagnosis or presenting concern. It brings together information about your history, current experiences, symptoms, strengths, and functioning to develop a more complete understanding of what may be contributing to your concerns.
The evaluation typically includes a clinical interview, psychological questionnaires and assessment measures, and collateral information when appropriate. Depending on your concerns and the questions we are trying to answer, additional measures may be included.
The goal is not simply to assign a diagnosis. Instead, the assessment is an opportunity to step back, look at the bigger picture, and better understand why you may be experiencing the difficulties you are experiencing and what can help.
What to Expect:
1. Initial Consultation
Submit an inquiry through the practice website. You will be contacted via email to schedule an initial consultation where the purpose of the evaluation will be reviewed, along with any important questions you are hoping to have answered through the evaluation.
2. Schedule your evaluation and complete your questionnaires
After scheduling your full evaluation session, I will provide you with several questionnaires and assessment measures to complete through secure online platforms.
These measures may explore areas such as mood, anxiety, attention and executive functioning, personality, trauma-related experiences, interpersonal functioning, and other areas relevant to your concerns.
You can complete these measures on your own time prior to or around the time of your clinical interview. All information is kept confidential and is integrated with the other information gathered throughout the evaluation.
3. Meet for your clinical interview
Your evaluation begins with a comprehensive interview focused on getting to know you and understanding what brings you to assessment.
We will talk about your current concerns as well as relevant aspects of your developmental, educational, occupational, medical, mental health, and interpersonal history. We will also discuss your strengths, coping strategies, and the areas of life where you feel things are going well.
The interview allows us to put your questionnaire results into context. Psychological assessment results are most meaningful when they are understood within the context of your individual history and circumstances.
Depending on the questions we’re exploring, additional assessment measures may be recommended after the initial interview. This allows the evaluation to remain individualized rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all testing battery.
4. Consider including collateral information
When appropriate, information from someone who knows you well can provide additional context and help create a more complete picture of your functioning.
With your permission, I may ask a parent, partner, family member, or another person you trust to complete a brief questionnaire or provide relevant historical information.
5. Receive your comprehensive report
Following completion of the assessment, the information from your interview, questionnaires, and any available collateral information are integrated into a comprehensive psychological report.
The report is designed to be more than a collection of test scores. It connects the assessment findings to your history, your current experiences, and the questions that brought you to evaluation in the first place. Please allow approximately 4 weeks for the report to be completed.
What Questions Can A Psychological Evaluation Answer?
A comprehensive evaluation can be helpful when you have questions about your mental health or functioning that are difficult to answer through therapy or a brief diagnostic evaluation alone.
For example, an evaluation may help clarify:
- Why am I struggling even though I feel like I “should” be doing better?
- Are my difficulties related to anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, or something else?
- Why do I have difficulty managing emotions, relationships, or stress?
- Are there patterns in my personality or coping style that I don’t fully understand?
- Why do certain situations consistently feel more difficult for me?
- What factors are contributing to my current difficulties?
- What types of treatment or support are most likely to be helpful?
- What are my strengths, and how can I use them more effectively?
The specific focus of the assessment will depend on your concerns and the questions you hope to answer.
Fully Virtual Assessment
The entire evaluation process can be completed remotely. You will meet with me through a secure telehealth platform, and questionnaires and assessment measures are completed online.
Virtual assessment can be a particularly convenient option for individuals who have busy schedules, difficulty traveling to an office, or simply feel more comfortable completing an evaluation from a familiar environment.
I will discuss the limitations and appropriateness of virtual assessment with you during the initial scheduling process. Certain types of evaluations or clinical questions may require in-person assessment, and I will be transparent with you if I believe an in-person evaluation would provide more useful information.
Cost
The cost of a comprehensive psychological assessment varies depending on the scope and complexity of the evaluation and the questions we are trying to answer.
Prior to beginning the assessment, I will discuss the expected scope of the evaluation, what is included, and the associated fee so that you know what to expect.
Standard evaluation fees range from $800-$1500.
ADHD Testing:
The standard fee for a comprehensive ADHD evaluation is $1,000. This includes the clinical interview, self-report measures, collateral questionnaire when appropriate, interpretation of findings, and comprehensive written report.
If the evaluation becomes more extensive because additional diagnostic questions need to be explored or additional assessment is clinically indicated, an additional fee may apply. Any change in scope or cost will be discussed with you before moving forward.
Insurance
Insurance coverage for psychological assessment varies considerably by plan. I recommend contacting your insurance company before scheduling to ask about your specific benefits for outpatient psychological assessment and diagnostic evaluation.
If you plan to use out-of-network benefits, I can provide the documentation you need to submit a claim to your insurance company. Please note that reimbursement is determined by your individual insurance plan, and you are responsible for payment at the time of the evaluation.
Kelly Shea, Psy.D.
Committed to identity-affirming care and research-backed practices.
Located at 2446 Albany Ave, Suite 301, West Hartford, CT
Telehealth services available for individuals located in: AL, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, ME, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Shea Psychological Services LLC 