The clinical evaluation process involves an intake interview, psychological testing, and a feedback session with treatment recommendations.

At Psychological Affiliates, our comprehensive clinical evaluations are tailored to identify emotional, behavioral, cognitive, or neurodevelopmental concerns. The process typically includes:

1. Initial intake interview to gather history, symptoms, and referral concerns

2. Standardized psychological testing, which may consist of IQ tests, emotional assessments, or behavioral inventories

3. Collateral input, such as school records or caregiver reports (especially for children and teens)

4. Clinical interpretation by a licensed psychologist or neuropsychologist

5. Feedback session, where we review the results, diagnosis (if applicable), and individualized treatment recommendations

Evaluations are confidential and designed to answer referral questions about conditions such as ADHD, anxiety, learning disorders, mood disorders, or trauma-related symptoms.

Clinical psychologists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of complex mental health conditions, while counselors focus on talk therapy for life challenges and personal growth.

While both clinical psychologists and counselors provide therapy, their training, scope of practice, and focus areas differ:

Clinical psychologists (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) are trained in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of severe mental health conditions, such as depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and neuropsychological impairments. They often conduct psychological testing and work with clients needing in-depth evaluation and structured therapy approaches like CBT or DBT.

Counselors and therapists (LPC, LMHC, LCSW) are trained in talk therapy, often focusing on relationship issues, life transitions, stress management, or emotional support. They do not typically perform diagnostic evaluations or forensic work.

A psychological evaluation assesses emotional and behavioral health, while a neuropsychological evaluation focuses on brain function, memory, attention, and learning ability.

The distinction between psychological and neuropsychological evaluations lies in what they measure and why they’re used:

• A psychological evaluation explores mood, personality, emotional functioning, trauma, and behavior. It’s often used to assess conditions like anxiety, depression, PTSD, or oppositional behaviors.

• A neuropsychological evaluation goes deeper into cognitive functioning, examining how the brain processes information. It measures attention, executive function, memory, visual-spatial skills, and problem-solving abilities. They are crucial for diagnosing ADHD, learning disabilities, traumatic brain injury (TBI), dementia, or developmental concerns.

If your child struggles with learning, attention, behavior, or academic performance despite support, they may benefit from an educational evaluation.

An educational or psychoeducational evaluation helps identify whether a child has learning disabilities, ADHD, or other academic-related challenges. You might consider scheduling one if you notice:

• Struggles with reading, math, or writing

• Short attention span or behavioral disruptions in class

• Frustration with schoolwork or low confidence in learning

• Inconsistent performance despite tutoring or teacher support

• A recommendation from a teacher, pediatrician, or school psychologist

At Psychological Affiliates, we perform detailed academic and cognitive assessments to identify learning disorders, processing deficits, ADHD, and more. Our reports may include IEP or 504 Plan recommendations, making them useful for schools and educational advocacy.

Many insurance plans cover ADHD evaluations, but individual coverage will depend on the provider, referral reason, and diagnosis process.

Most health insurance plans in Florida offer some level of coverage for ADHD testing, especially when the evaluation is medically necessary and performed by a licensed psychologist.

Yes, our forensic psychologists are trained to evaluate factitious disorder, Munchausen syndrome, and malingering in both clinical and legal contexts.

Factitious disorder imposed on self or another (formerly known as Munchausen syndrome or Munchausen syndrome by proxy) involves intentionally producing or exaggerating symptoms for psychological gain, often requiring specialized forensic assessment.

At Psychological Affiliates, our licensed forensic psychologists are experienced in evaluating:

• Caregiver-fabricated illness in children (common in family court cases)

• Factitious symptoms in civil or disability evaluations

• Malingering, where individuals fake symptoms for financial or legal gain

These complex cases require:

• Detailed record review

• Collateral interviews

• Validity testing and behavioral observation

• Professional consultation with legal teams or protective services

We provide court-admissible evaluations and expert witness testimony in cases involving child protection, custody disputes, and high-conflict litigation throughout Florida.

If your child is struggling academically, showing signs of a learning disability like dyslexia, or may need school accommodations or an IEP, they likely need an IQ test or a psychoeducational evaluation.

At Psychological Affiliates, we specialize in evaluating children who may need academic accommodations, special education services, or gifted placement. An IQ test is often part of a larger psychoeducational evaluation that helps identify learning differences, including dyslexia, and determines whether your child qualifies for:

• An Individualized Education Program (IEP)

• A 504 Plan

• Classroom accommodations or school-based support services
  

You may want to schedule testing if your child is:

• Struggling with reading, spelling, writing, or math

• Showing signs of dyslexia (e.g., reversing letters, poor phonemic awareness, slow reading progress)

• Having trouble focusing, staying organized, or completing assignments

• Performing inconsistently despite being bright or motivated

• Frequently frustrated, anxious, or avoiding schoolwork

We offer full evaluations to:

• Diagnose learning disabilities, including dyslexia, dysgraphia, and ADHD

• Assess cognitive abilities, including IQ, working memory, and processing speed

• Recommend specific school accommodations, such as extended time, reading support, or reduced-distraction environments
  

Our licensed psychologists provide thorough, school-ready reports that meet criteria for public and private school accommodations, gifted placement, or eligibility under IDEA and Section 504. Testing is available in-person or through virtual options. If you’re unsure whether your child’s difficulties are behavioral, emotional, or learning-related, a professional evaluation is the first step toward getting answers and support.