Assessment
I am committed to providing comprehensive assessment services to assist individuals and families to tease apart diagnostic issues and to have clarity in moving forward armed with useful information and recommendations.
Why undertake a comprehensive assessment?
Most of the people who approach me for assessment are concerned that they (or their child) are experiencing an unidentified problem about which they would like clarity. When I talk about a "comprehensive" assessment, I am describing one in which every aspect of a person's psychological functioning needs to be assessed in order to answer a particular question. This is especially true in neurodevelopmental disorders, such as an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or an Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Even when a question is as specific as "Does my child have ASD?", it is important to be comprehensive in assessment to ensure that the resulting conclusions are as accurate as possible.
Disorders overlap. Even one symptom, such as poor concentration, has many possible explanations: low mood, ADHD, anxiety, psychosis, etc. To get an accurate picture of the difficulties with which a person is struggling, it is important to screen widely in order to rule out as much as possible before gradually narrowing the assessment focus. No one piece of information is meaningful without being considered in the context of all the other pieces of information. The process can be lengthy and time-consuming, but the end result is that we can have much more confidence in our conclusions.
Typical Assessment Procedure
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1 x 60-90 minute clinical interview
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1-3 x 90 minute assessment sessions
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1 x 90 minute feedback session
This is highly variable depending on the nature of the assessment. The process also includes interviews with other professionals and loved ones, as well as the administration of many questionnaires.
Fees
I typically charge a flat rate of $2500 plus GST for a comprehensive assessment, as there is typically a minimum of 12 hours of work involved. This may be more expensive than what many other clinicians offer elsewhere. I spend a lot of time on each assessment because I strongly believe in the importance of being thorough. Some clients may choose to pay the entire fee up front, but many choose to pay 50% prior to the initial appointment and then 50% prior to the final appointment. Charging a flat rate allows me the flexibility to spend as much time as each assessment takes. In some cases, such as when the assessment question is very specific or where another professional (such as a Psychiatrist) has already undertaken a lot of assessment, fees may be prorated.