A psychological evaluation is a comprehensive process that helps children, teens, and adults better understand their thinking, learning, emotions, and behavior. These evaluations are often recommended when there are questions about learning challenges, developmental concerns, or mental health. Through a combination of interviews, standardized assessments, and feedback sessions, psychological testing provides detailed insights into strengths and areas of difficulty. The results not only bring clarity but also guide personalized next steps for education, treatment, and overall well-being.
What Is a Psychological Evaluation?
A psychological evaluation is a structured process that helps us understand how a person thinks, learns, remembers, and manages emotions and behavior. The process combines interviews, questionnaires, standardized activities, and detailed feedback sessions to create a picture of both strengths and challenges.
Psychological evaluations can be helpful for many people, including:
- Students struggling in school who may need additional support or accommodations
- Children with developmental concerns, such as delays in speech, learning, or social skills
- Individuals who may have ADHD, autism, or a learning difference
- Adults seeking diagnostic clarity or direction for treatment
- Gifted learners who need guidance to ensure their abilities are supported
The goal of an evaluation is not only to identify areas of difficulty but also to highlight unique strengths. With this information, families and providers can make informed decisions about education, treatment, and support strategies.
Why Psychological Evaluations Are Important
A psychological evaluation offers meaningful insight into how someone learns, processes information, and experiences the world. For children, teens, and adults, this clarity can be life-changing as the process yields more than test scores.
Some of the key reasons evaluations are important include:
- Clarity and understanding – Testing helps explain why certain struggles are happening and highlights both strengths and challenges.
- Guidance for next steps – Results provide direction for educational planning, therapy, or medical treatment.
- Actionable recommendations – Families and providers receive practical strategies that can be put into action right away at school, at home, or in treatment settings.
Ultimately, a psychological evaluation is about creating a roadmap that supports growth, well-being, and success.
Types of Psychological Evaluations
Psychological evaluations are tailored to answer specific questions and meet the needs of each individual. The type of evaluation depends on age, concerns, and goals.
Comprehensive Psychoeducational Evaluations (Ages 6–22)
These evaluations take an in-depth look at how a student thinks, learns, and performs in school. They often include cognitive and academic testing, as well as measures of attention, memory, and executive functioning. The results can identify learning disabilities, ADHD, and other factors that may affect school performance, while also highlighting strengths.
Autism Evaluations (Ages 1–22)
Autism evaluations provide clarity when there are concerns about communication, behavior, or social interaction. Using evidence-based tools, observations, and input from parents or teachers, these evaluations identify strengths and challenges and guide recommendations for therapy, school support, and family strategies.
Diagnostic or Psychological Evaluations (Teens and Adults)
For older teens and adults, diagnostic evaluations help clarify mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, or complex overlapping conditions. The process often includes interviews, questionnaires, and psychological assessments to create a clear plan for treatment and support.
Developmental Evaluations for Young Children (Ages 2–5)
Developmental evaluations are designed for young children when there are questions about early milestones, social interaction, or language skills. These assessments use play-based and standardized tools to give parents a better understanding of strengths and areas that may need extra support.
Our Evaluation Process
Our psychological evaluation is a thorough process designed to provide accurate and meaningful results. We take time to get to know each person and gather information from multiple sources before offering recommendations.
Our step-by-step process includes:
- Initial phone call – A brief consultation to learn about your concerns, explain how testing works, and review next steps.
- Interviews – Parent or caregiver interviews (and client interviews when appropriate) to gather background information and goals.
- Testing sessions – Standardized assessments scheduled over multiple days to ensure accuracy and reduce fatigue.
- Surveys and record review – Questionnaires and school or medical records that provide additional context.
- Feedback sessions – Meetings with parents and clients to review findings and recommendations in a clear, supportive way.
- Comprehensive written report – A detailed document summarizing results, impressions, and personalized recommendations.
- Optional follow-up support – Continued guidance as families begin implementing strategies and supports.
By taking a multi-day, multi-step approach, we ensure that evaluations are accurate, thoughtful, and truly reflective of each individual’s needs.
When to Consider a Psychological Evaluation
A psychological evaluation can be helpful in many situations where answers are not clear. Families and individuals often consider an evaluation when:
- A student is struggling academically despite receiving extra support
- There are ongoing behavioral or emotional concerns that affect daily life
- Learning disabilities, ADHD, or developmental delays are suspected
- Progress in therapy or with medications feels limited or unclear
- Concerns arise about autism or other developmental differences
Evaluations provide clarity about what may be causing challenges and highlight areas of strength that can be built upon. With this information, families and providers can make informed decisions about education, treatment, and support.
Benefits of a Psychological Evaluation
A psychological evaluation offers more than answers or test scores. It creates a clear roadmap for understanding and supporting a person’s unique needs.
Some of the key benefits include:
- Clarity about strengths and challenges – Results explain why certain struggles may be happening and highlight abilities that can be nurtured.
- Accurate diagnosis and recommendations – Evaluations provide diagnostic clarity along with specific, practical next steps.
- Improved communication – Families, schools, and healthcare providers gain a shared understanding, making collaboration easier.
- Informed decisions – Results guide choices about education, therapy, and medical care with confidence.
With these benefits, families and individuals are equipped to move forward with a plan that supports growth, well-being, and long-term success.
Cost of a Psychological Evaluation
The cost of a psychological evaluation varies depending on the type of assessment and the age of the client, but most comprehensive evaluations fall between $4,500 and $6,000. This fee covers the full process, including testing sessions, interviews with parents or caregivers, surveys and record reviews, a detailed written report, and feedback sessions for both the family and the client. Because each evaluation is tailored to the individual, pricing can differ based on specific needs. We encourage families to call our office to discuss their situation and receive guidance on what to expect.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does testing take?
Testing usually takes place over several sessions spread across multiple days. This approach prevents fatigue and ensures results reflect the individual’s best effort. Sessions typically last between 60 and 90 minutes, depending on age and the type of evaluation.
Do you accept insurance?
At this time, we do not accept insurance for psychological evaluations. Families are welcome to contact our office to discuss payment plan options.
Will testing diagnose my child?
Psychological testing can clarify whether a diagnosis is present, but it is only one part of understanding a child’s needs. The goal is to provide a full picture of strengths and challenges to guide meaningful recommendations.
Can testing be done in one day?
We generally recommend spreading testing across multiple days. A single full day can be tiring, especially for children, and may affect the accuracy of results.
How is this different from a school evaluation?
School evaluations are typically focused on determining eligibility for services or accommodations. Our evaluations are more comprehensive, combining cognitive, academic, developmental, and psychological testing to provide a broader and more detailed understanding.
What ages can be tested?
We offer evaluations for children as young as one year old, as well as teens and adults. The approach and tools we use are tailored to the client’s age and needs.
Will my child be stressed during testing?
Our sessions are designed to be engaging, age-appropriate, and paced with breaks to help children feel comfortable and confident.
How soon will we get results?
Families typically receive a detailed written report within a few weeks of completing testing. Feedback sessions are scheduled promptly to ensure results and recommendations can be put into action.
Can results be shared with schools or doctors?
Yes. Families receive the full report and may choose to share it with schools, therapists, or healthcare providers as needed.
Do you offer follow-up support?
We provide optional follow-up support to help families put recommendations into practice. Our psychiatric team is also available to provide ongoing care, such as therapy or medication management if needed.
Next Steps
If you are ready to take the next step toward clarity and support, the process begins with a brief phone consultation. During this call, we will listen to your concerns, explain how psychological evaluations work, and answer any initial questions you may have. From there, we will guide you through each stage of the evaluation with care and attention to detail.
We proudly serve families in Denver, Golden, and the surrounding Colorado communities, and we are here to provide guidance every step of the way.