ADHD Testing at Katy Psychological Services ADHD testing involves a comprehensive assessment using evidence-based methods to evaluate for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. At Katy Psychological Services, PLLC, it can provide a detailed understanding of your child's behavioral patterns, strengths, and challenges, paving the way for tailored support and interventions. Be careful and skeptical about places that offer testing that includes only a computerized test. Anyone can pass or fail this test, leading to false positives and false negatives. Cheapest and fastest is definitely not the way to go when you want to confirm or rule out a diagnosis of ADHD. Here, you will start with a clinical interview, whether for yourself or your child. This is more than a "consultation". It is our diagnostic evaluation where we start to gather information about your current concerns and also ask important questions about how long your symptoms have been occurring, and how have they been interfering with daily life (work, school, home?). Think about and be prepared to answer and provide examples of a history of concerns such has having a short attention span, being disorganized, forgetful, scattered, difficulty sitting still for long periods of time. You should also know that ADHD co-occurs with many other disorders, such as anxiety, depression, learning difficulties, to name the most common comorbidities. After you initial interview (50-60 min) the psychologist will be able to better give you a price quote to determine how much testing is needed. We will provide our recommendations and get your input if the plan sounds right to you. If you agree with the plan, you schedule a testing date to return later for the evaluation (it can range from basic/straightforward (1 hr) to comprehensive to rule out mutlitple concerns (learning, social/emotional, academic, etc.) which tops out at 6 hours. If you don't need testing for all those things, naturally, the testing time and price for the evaluation will be less. When do I get my results? Usually three weeks after your testing date. You will meet again with the psychologist who will explain the results, applicable diagnoses, and most importantly, recommendations and next steps for intervention.

Comprehensive ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorders Testing Yes, our trained specialists can conduct thorough testing for both ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorders. Utilizing a combination of interviews, standardized tests, and behavioral observations, we ensure an accurate diagnosis to support effective treatment planning. We perform the ADOS-2 as part of our assessment battery for ASD, along with other complimentary measures to ensure a complete and well-rounded assessment. We can test as young as 18 months and have the experience and expertise to test adolescents, adults, and even older adults who have maybe suspected they might be on the spectrum but never got tested before.

Parent Training What is Parent Management Training? Parent Management Training (PMT) is a structured, evidence-based approach that teaches parents practical strategies to reduce challenging behaviors and strengthen their relationship with their child. Rather than focusing solely on the child, PMT recognizes that the most powerful change often happens through the parent. What are the Benefits? Parents who complete PMT typically feel more confident, less stressed, and better equipped to handle difficult moments at home. Children show meaningful reductions in defiant, oppositional, and disruptive behaviors — and the whole family dynamic tends to shift for the better. What to Expect Sessions are held with the parent without the child present for most appointments to learn and practice specific techniques that can be used right away at home. Drawing from two well-researched programs, Barkley’s Defiant Children and Kazdin’s PMT, the focus is on understanding why challenging behaviors happen and how to respond in ways that actually work. Parents learn how to use praise, rewards, and consistent consequences effectively, without the power struggles. Each session builds on the last, with ongoing support for troubleshooting what’s working and what needs adjusting along the way. Most families begin noticing real changes within the first few sessions. What Does the Research Say? PMT is one of the most extensively researched interventions for childhood behavioral concerns, with decades of studies supporting its effectiveness for reducing defiance, aggression, and noncompliance. Both Barkley’s and Kazdin’s models have strong track records showing lasting improvements not just in child behavior, but in parenting confidence and family relationships. What Ages is PMT For? PMT is most effective for children between the ages of 2 and 12, though many of the strategies can be adapted for teenagers as well. If a child is on the older end or presenting with more complex needs, the psychologist will discuss whether PMT or a modified approach is the best fit during the initial consultation. However, we can also provide parenting support with teens exhibiting oppositional defiant behaviors through Barkley's Defiant Teen curriculum.

Learning Disability Testing Programs 1. Yes, we offer comprehensive testing for reading, writing, and math disorders commonly referred to as dyslexia, dysgraphia, or dyscalculia. All of our practitioners have specialized training in working with the school age population, and three of us have dual licensure as school psychologists. While schools can do testing to determine if a student meets eligibility for special education, we focus on a private evaluation that investigates “why” a child is having difficulties learning and what interventions would be best to help him/her succeed once we know more about their cognitive strengths and weaknesses. Our evaluations are comprehensive, meaning we will also get current information from your child’s teachers (unless you specifically request us not to). 2. We offer testing for adults as well. Our clients usually self-refer because they want to know if they have a condition of dyslexia or dyscalculia that is creating difficulty for them completing higher education classwork (community college, university, graduate school). In those cases, testing can provide documentation of a disability in which accommodations for the classroom might be beneficial. 3. We also test young children (ages 3-6) by conducting screenings for potential learning difficulties so that parents can intervene early on. This would be most helpful if you know that there are learning disabilities that run in the family and you are already seeing areas of concern.

Initial Steps for Suspected Learning Disabilities If you suspect a learning disability, the first step is to schedule a comprehensive evaluation. At Katy Psychological Services, we'll guide you through the process to understand your child's educational needs and how to best support them.

ADHD Testing for Adults Adults can indeed be tested for ADHD. The process involves clinical interviews, self-reporting assessments, and may include screenings for other psychological concerns to ensure a thorough evaluation. An ADHD evaluation is recommended if you've always had chronic symptoms but have never been tested, or maybe you were able to use strategies and compensatory tools to help you get by, but now it's becoming too much. ADHD testing is not recommended if your symptoms are recent and just started within the last few months or years. ADHD is a neurobiological disorder, meaning someone in your family likely has it (diagnosed or not) and your symptoms would be present since childhood.

For therapy, we can usually schedule new client appointments the same week or the week after. It is always possible to get in sooner if a spot opens up from our cancel list (please ask to be placed on it if interested). For evaluations, it can depend on how many people are scheduled ahead of you. We can give you our best estimate when you call for current availability of how long the testing process will take so you have a realistic expectation. If you have decided you want us to do your testing, we suggest that you take the next available appointment and specifically ask to move up if there are any cancellations (life happens and we can gladly move you up if/when we can).

No. Our psychologists do not conduct court-ordered evaluations nor do we voluntarily participate in cases involving custody or legal disputes. (This is a specialty area known as forensic psychology if you need services for legal matters.)

A: Yes, psychologists at Katy Psychological Services are qualified to diagnose dyslexia and other learning disabilities. Similar to how medical doctors pursue specialized training in fields like cardiology or neurology beyond their general medical license, psychologists receive advanced training in specific areas such as educational and developmental assessments. Our licensed psychologists utilize comprehensive psychological evaluations tailored to identify learning challenges, including dyslexia, ensuring an accurate diagnosis. This process involves reviewing cognitive, academic, and emotional functioning to develop a clear understanding of each individual's needs. With this expert assessment, we provide personalized recommendations and support plans to help clients achieve their full academic and personal potential. Several of our psychologists are also dual licensed as School Psychologists, which means they know the innerworkings of the school system, the laws they must abide by, and how to make recommendations that can lead to the right support in the school system if needed.

A: Yes, Katy Psychological Services offers specialized testing for accommodations on the SAT and college exams. Our clinicians have the training and experience required to conduct the comprehensive evaluations necessary for accommodation requests. This includes formal IQ and achievement testing, which are mandated by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) for SAT accommodations. While we conduct thorough assessments to support accommodation applications, it is important to understand that approval is determined by the ETS and there are no guarantees that accommodations will be granted. Our goal is to provide detailed and professional evaluations to best support each client’s needs.

Q: Can Katy Psychological Services evaluate children who are twice exceptional? A: Yes, Katy Psychological Services provides comprehensive psychological evaluations specifically designed to assess children who are twice exceptional, those who demonstrate both gifted abilities and learning or developmental challenges. Our experienced clinicians use a combination of standardized testing, clinical interviews, and behavioral observations to identify both strengths and areas of need. This thorough approach helps create an accurate profile that guides tailored intervention and support plans.

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a structured, evidence-based psychotherapy designed to help individuals process and heal from traumatic memories and emotional distress. At Katy Psychological Services, EMDR is offered to clients of all ages (10 and up). The therapy follows an eight-phase approach that guides clients through identifying and processing traumatic experiences while using bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements, to facilitate healing. The pace of EMDR is carefully adjusted to ensure comfort and effectiveness for each individual. This method has been extensively researched and shown to reduce symptoms of trauma, anxiety, and related mental health concerns.

Yes, Katy Psychological Services offers comprehensive psychological evaluations designed to assess and diagnose bipolar disorder. Our expert clinicians utilize evidence-based assessment tools combined with detailed clinical interviews to evaluate mood patterns, behavioral history, and symptom presentation. This thorough approach ensures an accurate diagnosis, which is essential for developing an effective, personalized treatment plan.

Yes, Katy Psychological Services offers psychological evaluations for personality disorders. Yes, we test for Borderline Personality Disorder and Narcissistic Personality, among others. Our experienced clinicians use proven tools and interviews to carefully assess your symptoms and history.

Testing for a learning disability typically requires between 4 to 6 hours. This comprehensive evaluation assesses various aspects of cognitive functioning, including working memory, processing speed, and fluid reasoning. Additionally, the testing covers key areas of academic achievement such as reading, writing, and math. Our thorough assessment process is designed to provide an accurate understanding of each client’s unique strengths and challenges and tailor recommendations based on what results yield.

At Katy Psychological Services, a psychological evaluation generally takes between 2 to 3 hours. The duration varies depending on the severity of symptoms and the specific areas being assessed. Since disorders such as anxiety and depression often coexist with conditions like ADHD and possibly autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the evaluation process is tailored to thoroughly explore these complexities, if it is determined by both you and the psychologist that is something you want to pursue further through a formal evaluation. We provide a personalized assessment plan following your initial intake appointment, where we gather detailed information to determine the scope and focus of testing needed for your unique situation. You will be provided a testing estimate of time it will take to conduct your evaluation after the initial interview. You can decide to continue on for testing or decline to move further at that time.