Frequently Asked Questions

Psychological assessment utilizes a detailed history, formal structured interviews, questionnaires, and psychological tests to understand how your mind works. This can be to seek a formal diagnosis, clarify therapy goals, understand educational or vocational needs, or understand personality dynamics that may contribute to life difficulties.  

Psychological assessment can be helpful in addressing a number of concerns, including clarifying therapy goals, informing a psychotropic medication management regimen, and formal diagnosis for conditions like attention (ADHD), autism (ASD), developmental concerns, depression, anxiety, trauma, PTSD, learning disorders, school problems, behavior concerns, bipolar disorders, other mood disorders, weight concerns, and eating disorders.

Psychological Evaluation – This is a formal way to comprehensively measure an individual’s cognitive functioning, feelings, emotional regulation, frustration tolerance, personality, and quality of relationships with an aim of identifying strengths and needs for ongoing treatment planning.

Developmental Evaluation – This comprehensive assessment is conducted to determine a young child’s overall adaptive skills and cognitive functioning to identify strengths and needs beyond simply obtaining their developmental level.

Psychoeducational Evaluation – This form of assessment is conducted to identify one's learning style, uncover possible learning differences, help determine the type of setting best suited for the individual's needs, including necessary school accommodations, or determine if a young child is ready to start school. 

For more detailed information on the types of psychological assessments we provide, go to our Services page.

We specialize in working with individuals across the lifespan and welcome the opportunity to assist your child gain needed tools to be successful in life. We focus on a strengths-based, systems approach in working with children and adolescents via collaboration with the child, caregivers, school system, and other treatment professionals, as needed.

Assessment usually takes place over multiple meetings over a few weeks. First, a detailed history is gathered during an initial interview. Then a client will be asked to participate in various psychological tests – some paper and pencil or online, some responding to the psychologist. This is usually done in one day but could be on separate days, if need be. Records and collateral information is also gathered. Finally, a detailed report is written over about the next month and shared in a feedback session.  

We are focused on the overall well-being and safety of our clients, so we use a hybrid model of assessment. In this model, the initial interview is conducted remotely via telehealth. The psychological testing session is then conducted in-office, and the feedback session is completed remotely.

At present, we only offer telehealth therapy services. Virtual therapy is similar to in-person therapy sessions, just over video. It aligns with HPS' commitment to improving accessibility to quality behavioral healthcare, as it removes many barriers to seeking treatment. There are many benefits to telehealth psychotherapy: it can be easier and more efficient for you to access mental health care; there may be more flexibility to schedule a time convenient for you; and you can talk to a therapist without physically coming to the office. It allows you the flexibility and convenience to attend therapy from the comfort of your home or anywhere you have an internet connection, while also ensuring your information remains private and confidential. 

In the first session, we'll discuss your concerns, symptoms, and treatment goals. We'll explain the therapeutic approach and answer any questions you have. It's also an opportunity for us to get to know each other and establish a therapeutic relationship. During remaining sessions, we will explore various techniques to help you regain control of your thoughts, behavior, and approach to coping with stress and life’s disappointments. We will help you navigate your way through internal conflicts, emotional distress, relational conflicts, or maladaptive coping mechanisms. 

We accept many major insurance plans for psychological evaluations and Blue Cross Blue Shield and Medicare for therapy. If we accept your particular insurance plan, we complete all associated paperwork. Contact us directly to determine if we accept your insurance plan.

If we do not accept your insurance plan, we can provide you a Superbill to submit to your insurance company to take advantage of your out-of-network reimbursement. For more information, contact us here. 

We accept self-pay clients, as well. Prior to the initial appointment, we gather preliminary information about your presenting concerns, which will be used to develop an estimated course of evaluation and cost. For the first appointment, you only pay for the initial interview. If there is a mutual decision to complete the full psychological evaluation, you will pay half of the estimated cost before the testing session. The remaining balance, as well as the cost of any additional testing hours, are due prior to the feedback session. Should more hours than expected be needed, you will receive an updated estimate as soon as that is determined. Acceptable forms of payment include cash and credit card. Personal checks are not accepted. 

The cost of a psychological evaluation is determined by the number of hours our provider spends on completion of your assessment from the initial interview to the feedback session. The time spent on an evaluation depends on a number of factors, such as complexity of the presenting problem(s), amount of records review, and number of collateral contacts needed to complete the assessment. 

Psychoeducational evaluations are self-pay only and insurance may be used for clinical psychological evaluations. With insurance, the billed amount is limited by what is allowable by the insurance company, and a client is only responsible for any copay and/or deductible determined by their plan. Our executive assistant will provide you with an estimate of your out-of-pocket cost prior to the start of the assessment process. Contact us directly to determine if we accept your insurance plan and your estimated out-of-pocket cost.

Self-pay clients are responsible for the full fee charged for the evaluation. Prior to the initial appointment, we gather preliminary information about your presenting concerns, which will be used to develop an estimated course of evaluation and cost. For the first appointment, you only pay for the initial interview. If there is a mutual decision to complete the full psychological evaluation, you will pay half of the estimated cost before the testing session. The remaining balance, as well as the cost of any additional testing hours, are due prior to the feedback session. Should more hours than expected be needed, you will receive an updated estimate as soon as that is determined. Contact us directly for more information.

In an effort to assist as many of those in need as possible, we do offer a sliding scale. Proof of income of all household members is required to determine qualification. If that is still not the best option for you, we will do our best to refer you to other resources that may offer assistance.

If you or your child is in crisis, immediately call 9-1-1. You may also call 9-8-8 or go to the nearest hospital, if possible to do so safely. HPS does not provide 24/7 crisis management services.

For further information, call 817-807-1931, email HPS@HillPsychServices.com, or complete the Contact Form at the bottom of our website. You may also click the link for the appropriate Client Intake Packet located on our Forms page and office staff will reach out to you soon.