Mood, Personality, and Behavioral Evaluations
Providing family centered assessment services throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
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?
I will work closely with your family to design a testing plan that will address the questions and concerns you have about your child.
The process involves:
Initial Parent Meeting: All evaluations begin with an initial interview and parent consultation via telehealth. If at all possible, all parents/guardians should be present for this meeting. We will discuss your questions and concerns about your child and discuss what you are hoping to gain from the testing process. In this meeting, we will review the intake questionnaire and I will ask additional questions about your child’s history. 50% of the testing fee will be charged at this appointment. (90 minutes)
School/Classroom Observation: For Children in preschool and elementary school, I will observe your child at school before meeting your child (if school COVID-19 protocols allow this). This provides me an opportunity to see your child’s classroom environment and connect with their teacher. Middle and high school students will not be observed and teacher contacts are made by phone. (60 minutes)
Testing Sessions: Most children and adolescents need a total of 8-10 hours of testing. Typically, testing is scheduled across 2-4 sessions, depending on the needs of your child. I will work with your child in person as well as via telehealth.
Comprehensive Psychological Report: You will receive your child’s comprehensive psychological report at least two weeks after the final testing session. At this time, you will be responsible for paying the remaining 50% of the testing fee.
Parent Feedback Meeting: I will meet with you via telehealth to discuss the results of your child’s testing. This meeting will occur approximately two weeks after the final testing session and after you have had a chance to review your child’s psychological report. This is an opportunity for you to better understand the testing results, discuss recommendations in greater depth, and answer any remaining questions. (60 minutes)
Child/Adolescent Feedback Meeting: When appropriate, I will meet with your child to discuss their results in a developmentally appropriate manner. This will be done in person or via telehealth depending on your child’s age and development. (30-60 minutes).
Followup Support: The evaluation fee includes support by phone, email, and telehealth to assist families in implementing the recommendations and finding well-matched treatment providers. If desired, I will also work with existing treatment providers to communicate results.
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!