Psycholigcal Testing and Assessment in Houston Texas
When someone has spent months or years struggling with attention, learning, emotions, relationships, work, or daily functioning, a psychological evaluation can help clarify what may be contributing to those difficulties.
Houston Therapy provides comprehensive psychological testing and assessment for adolescents and adults in Houston and throughout Texas.
Our evaluations examine cognitive, emotional, behavioral, academic, personality, and neuropsychological functioning. Each assessment is tailored to the individual and the specific questions they hope to answer.
People come to us for many reasons. Some want to know whether they have ADHD, autism, a learning disability, or another mental health condition. Others have received several diagnoses over the years and still do not feel that they fully understand what is happening. An assessment can bring these pieces together and provide practical recommendations for treatment, school, work, and everyday life.
Contact Houston Therapy at 713-936-2561 to discuss psychological testing or schedule an initial consultation.
Psychological Testing Services at Houston Therapy
Houston Therapy offers several types of psychological and neuropsychological assessment. Some evaluations focus on a specific diagnosis, while others examine several possible explanations for a complex set of symptoms.
Our testing services include:
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ADHD testing and assessment
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Adult autism testing
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Learning disability evaluations
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IQ and cognitive testing
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Academic achievement testing
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Neuropsychological assessment
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Personality assessment
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Mood and anxiety disorder assessment
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Trauma and PTSD assessment
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Psychosis and thought disorder assessment
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Dissociative disorder assessment
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Diagnostic clarification
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Decisional-capacity evaluations
The right evaluation depends on your symptoms, history, goals, and the questions that need to be answered. Our intake team can help you determine which service is most appropriate.
ADHD Testing and Assessment
ADHD can affect attention, organization, motivation, emotional regulation, time management, working memory, and the ability to begin or complete tasks. Symptoms may become especially noticeable during college, graduate school, demanding careers, parenthood, or other periods that require greater independence and organization.
Houston Therapy provides comprehensive ADHD testing and assessment for adolescents, college students, and adults.
An ADHD evaluation may examine:
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Attention and concentration
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Executive functioning
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Working memory
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Processing speed
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Organization and task completion
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Impulsivity and emotional regulation
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Childhood and developmental history
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Academic and occupational functioning
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Anxiety, depression, trauma, autism, sleep problems, and other possible explanations for attention difficulties
ADHD cannot be diagnosed accurately through one questionnaire alone. A comprehensive evaluation considers how symptoms developed, how they affect different areas of life, and whether another condition may better explain some of the difficulties.
Adult Autism Testing
Many adults seek an autism assessment after recognizing lifelong patterns involving social communication, sensory sensitivity, routines, focused interests, relationships, masking, or feeling different from other people.
Houston Therapy provides adult autism testing and assessment for adults in Houston and throughout Texas.
An adult autism evaluation may explore:
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Social communication patterns
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Relationships and social experiences
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Sensory sensitivities
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Preference for predictability or routine
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Focused interests
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Emotional regulation
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Masking and social compensation
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Developmental history
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Executive functioning
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The possible overlap between autism, ADHD, anxiety, trauma, and personality
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Adult autism can be overlooked in people who are verbally skilled, academically successful, highly intelligent, or able to compensate in structured environments. Women and adults from groups that have historically been underdiagnosed may also present differently from older stereotypes of autism.
The goal of an evaluation is to develop a thoughtful understanding of the person’s experiences, strengths, and support needs.
Learning Disability and Academic Achievement Testing
Learning disabilities can affect reading, writing, mathematics, comprehension, processing speed, or the ability to demonstrate knowledge under ordinary academic conditions.
A person with a learning disability may be intelligent and capable while still experiencing persistent difficulty in a specific area. Some people compensate successfully until coursework becomes more demanding. Others are first evaluated after years of frustration, inconsistent performance, or the belief that they simply need to work harder.
A learning disability evaluation may include:
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Cognitive or IQ testing
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Academic achievement testing
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Reading skills
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Written expression
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Mathematics
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Working memory
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Processing speed
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Attention and executive functioning
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Review of educational history and previous records
Testing can help determine whether a person’s academic difficulties are consistent with a specific learning disorder, ADHD, another psychological condition, or a combination of factors.
When testing is being pursued for school or standardized-testing accommodations, clients should confirm the documentation requirements of the relevant institution or testing organization before beginning the evaluation
IQ and Cognitive Testing
Cognitive testing examines how a person processes, remembers, organizes, and applies information. It can identify patterns of relative strength and difficulty that may not be apparent from grades, job performance, or daily behavior alone.
Cognitive testing may assess:
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Verbal reasoning
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Visual and spatial reasoning
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Working memory
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Processing speed
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Problem-solving
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Attention
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Learning and memory
IQ scores represent only one part of a larger psychological profile. We interpret cognitive results alongside the person’s history, current functioning, emotional well-being, and the specific reason for the evaluation.
Cognitive testing may be included in ADHD, learning disability, neuropsychological, or diagnostic-clarification evaluations.
Neuropsychological Assessment
A neuropsychological assessment examines cognitive abilities that may be affected by neurological, medical, developmental, or psychological conditions.
Testing may evaluate:
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Attention and concentration
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Learning and memory
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Language
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Processing speed
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Executive functioning
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Visual and spatial abilities
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Problem-solving
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Emotional and personality functioning
People may seek neuropsychological testing because of memory changes, cognitive concerns, a medical condition, a neurological history, or difficulty determining whether symptoms are primarily psychological, cognitive, or medical.
The scope of an evaluation depends on the referral question. In some situations, we may recommend consultation with a neurologist, physician, or another specialist as part of the broader evaluation process.
Diagnostic Clarification
Symptoms do not always fit neatly into one category. Problems with concentration, motivation, sleep, relationships, emotional regulation, or work performance may have several possible causes.
For example, difficulty concentrating may be related to ADHD, anxiety, depression, trauma, sleep deprivation, autism, medication effects, or another health condition. Emotional instability can occur alongside mood disorders, trauma, personality difficulties, ADHD, substance use, or major life stress.
A diagnostic-clarification evaluation considers multiple possibilities rather than beginning with the assumption that one particular diagnosis is present.
Assessment may examine:
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Depression and mood disorders
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Bipolar disorder
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Anxiety disorders
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Trauma and PTSD
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ADHD
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Autism
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Personality functioning
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Dissociation
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Psychosis or thought disorders
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Substance use
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Cognitive functioning
Diagnostic clarification can be particularly useful when previous treatment has not helped, several providers have offered different diagnoses, or a person’s symptoms have changed over time.
Personality Assessment
Personality assessment examines enduring patterns in how someone experiences emotions, understands themselves, responds to stress, and relates to other people.
People sometimes pursue personality testing because they repeatedly encounter similar difficulties in relationships, work, therapy, or decision-making. Personality assessment may also be included when symptoms are complex or when previous diagnoses do not adequately explain a person’s experiences.
Testing can provide information about:
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Emotional functioning
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Interpersonal patterns
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Self-image and identity
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Coping styles
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Responses to stress
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Impulse control
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Personality traits
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Possible personality disorders
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Treatment needs and likely barriers to progress
Personality testing is commonly integrated with interviews and other psychological measures. Results should be interpreted within the context of the whole person rather than reduced to a label or test score.
Trauma, PTSD, and Dissociation Assessment
Trauma can affect memory, attention, emotional regulation, sleep, relationships, physical arousal, and a person’s sense of safety. These symptoms may overlap with ADHD, anxiety, depression, personality difficulties, or other conditions.
A trauma-focused psychological assessment may help clarify whether symptoms are consistent with:
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Post-traumatic stress disorder
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Complex trauma
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Dissociative symptoms
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Depression or anxiety
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Trauma-related personality changes
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Another condition with overlapping symptoms
The evaluation may include a clinical interview, trauma-specific measures, personality testing, symptom questionnaires, and assessment of emotional and cognitive functioning.
Testing does not require someone to describe every traumatic experience in exhaustive detail. Your psychologist will explain what information is relevant and help structure the process carefully.
Mood, Anxiety, and Psychosis Evaluations
Psychological testing can help clarify complex emotional or perceptual symptoms, particularly when the diagnosis is uncertain or several conditions may be present.
These evaluations may explore:
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Major depression
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Bipolar disorder
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Generalized anxiety
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Panic attacks
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Obsessive-compulsive symptoms
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Severe emotional dysregulation
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Unusual beliefs or perceptual experiences
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Psychosis and thought disorders
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The effects of trauma, medication, substance use, or medical conditions
The resulting report can help guide psychotherapy, psychiatric treatment, further medical evaluation, and decisions about the appropriate level of care.
Decisional-Capacity Evaluations
A decisional-capacity evaluation examines whether a person can understand, appreciate, reason through, and communicate decisions regarding a particular area of life.
Capacity evaluations may relate to:
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Medical treatment
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Financial decisions
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Living arrangements
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Legal matters
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Independent functioning
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Other significant personal decisions
Capacity is specific to the decision being considered. A person may be capable of making certain decisions while needing assistance with others.
These evaluations often involve interviews, cognitive testing, review of available records, and consultation with relevant professionals or family members when appropriate and authorized.
Personality Assessment
Personality assessment examines enduring patterns in how someone experiences emotions, understands themselves, responds to stress, and relates to other people.
People sometimes pursue personality testing because they repeatedly encounter similar difficulties in relationships, work, therapy, or decision-making. Personality assessment may also be included when symptoms are complex or when previous diagnoses do not adequately explain a person’s experiences.
Testing can provide information about:
-
Emotional functioning
-
Interpersonal patterns
-
Self-image and identity
-
Coping styles
-
Responses to stress
-
Impulse control
-
Personality traits
-
Possible personality disorders
-
Treatment needs and likely barriers to progress
Personality testing is commonly integrated with interviews and other psychological measures. Results should be interpreted within the context of the whole person rather than reduced to a label or test score.
Trauma, PTSD, and Dissociation Assessment
Trauma can affect memory, attention, emotional regulation, sleep, relationships, physical arousal, and a person’s sense of safety. These symptoms may overlap with ADHD, anxiety, depression, personality difficulties, or other conditions.
A trauma-focused psychological assessment may help clarify whether symptoms are consistent with:
-
Post-traumatic stress disorder
-
Complex trauma
-
Dissociative symptoms
-
Depression or anxiety
-
Trauma-related personality changes
-
Another condition with overlapping symptoms
The evaluation may include a clinical interview, trauma-specific measures, personality testing, symptom questionnaires, and assessment of emotional and cognitive functioning.
Testing does not require someone to describe every traumatic experience in exhaustive detail. Your psychologist will explain what information is relevant and help structure the process carefully.
Mood, Anxiety, and Psychosis Evaluations
Psychological testing can help clarify complex emotional or perceptual symptoms, particularly when the diagnosis is uncertain or several conditions may be present.
These evaluations may explore:
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Major depression
-
Bipolar disorder
-
Generalized anxiety
-
Panic attacks
-
Obsessive-compulsive symptoms
-
Severe emotional dysregulation
-
Unusual beliefs or perceptual experiences
-
Psychosis and thought disorders
-
The effects of trauma, medication, substance use, or medical conditions
The resulting report can help guide psychotherapy, psychiatric treatment, further medical evaluation, and decisions about the appropriate level of care.
Decisional-Capacity Evaluations
A decisional-capacity evaluation examines whether a person can understand, appreciate, reason through, and communicate decisions regarding a particular area of life.
Capacity evaluations may relate to:
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Medical treatment
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Financial decisions
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Living arrangements
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Legal matters
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Independent functioning
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Other significant personal decisions
Capacity is specific to the decision being considered. A person may be capable of making certain decisions while needing assistance with others.
These evaluations often involve interviews, cognitive testing, review of available records, and consultation with relevant professionals or family members when appropriate and authorized.
Reasons People Seek Psychological Testing
People pursue testing at different stages of life and for many different reasons.
You may benefit from an evaluation when:
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You have struggled with attention, learning, organization, or memory
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You suspect you may have ADHD or autism
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You have received several diagnoses that do not seem to fit
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Therapy or medication has not produced the expected improvement
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Your symptoms are affecting work, school, relationships, or daily functioning
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You need recommendations for treatment or support
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You are seeking documentation for possible academic or workplace accommodations
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You have noticed changes in cognitive functioning
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A therapist, psychiatrist, physician, school, or attorney has recommended testing
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You want a clearer understanding of your strengths, challenges, and psychological functioning
You do not need to know exactly which test you need before contacting us. The initial conversation helps identify the referral question and determine whether our assessment services are a good fit.
What Is Included in a Psychological Evaluation?
Each evaluation is customized, but psychological testing commonly includes several components.
Clinical Interview
Your psychologist will ask about your current concerns, symptoms, developmental history, education, work, relationships, medical history, medications, and previous mental health treatment.
The interview also gives you an opportunity to explain what you hope to learn from the assessment.
Review of Records
Relevant records may include:
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Previous psychological or neuropsychological evaluations
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School records
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Report cards or transcripts
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Individualized Education Programs
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Medical records
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Psychiatric records
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Medication history
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Documentation from therapists or other providers
Your psychologist will tell you which records would be useful for your particular evaluation.
Standardized Psychological Testing
Testing is selected according to the referral question. It may include cognitive tests, academic measures, attention tasks, personality inventories, symptom questionnaires, executive-functioning measures, or autism-specific assessment tools.
Some tests are completed directly with the evaluator. Others may be completed independently through secure electronic systems.
Additional Information
With your permission, the evaluator may request information from a parent, partner, teacher, therapist, physician, or another person who knows you well.
Developmental information can be particularly useful during ADHD and autism evaluations. An evaluation may still be possible when a parent or childhood informant is unavailable.
Written Psychological Report
Your report will summarize:
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The reason for the evaluation
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Relevant background information
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Tests administered
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Results and interpretation
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Diagnostic conclusions
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Individual strengths and challenges
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Treatment recommendations
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Suggested next steps
The recommendations are tailored to the purpose of the assessment and may include therapy, medication consultation, coaching, educational support, workplace strategies, medical follow-up, or further evaluation.
Feedback Appointment
You will meet with your evaluator to review the findings and ask questions. The psychologist will explain the results in understandable language and discuss how the conclusions relate to your experiences.
A feedback appointment is an important part of the assessment. A written report can contain a large amount of information, and the meeting helps translate the results into practical next steps.
How Long Does Psychological Testing Take?
The assessment process usually includes:
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An initial clinical interview
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One or more testing appointments
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Scoring and interpretation
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Preparation of a written report
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A feedback appointment
Most evaluations are completed within approximately three to six weeks after the initial appointment. The exact timeline depends on the type of assessment, the amount of testing required, the availability of records, and the complexity of the referral question.
Testing itself may take several hours and may be completed in one appointment or divided across multiple sessions.
In-Person and Online Psychological Assessment
Houston Therapy provides in-person psychological testing at our Houston office:
Houston Therapy
4646 Wild Indigo Street, Suite 150
Houston, Texas 77027
Some interviews, questionnaires, and feedback appointments may be available through secure telehealth. Certain standardized tests require in-person administration.
Whether an evaluation can be completed fully or partially online depends on the type of testing, the person’s location, the referral question, and professional testing standards.
Psychological Assessment Fees
Psychological assessment fees generally range from $1,200 to $3,300, depending on the type and complexity of the evaluation.
The cost may be affected by:
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The number and type of tests required
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The length of the clinical interview
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Whether cognitive or academic testing is needed
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The complexity of the diagnostic questions
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The amount of record review required
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The purpose and length of the written report
You will receive information about the anticipated cost before beginning the evaluation.
Houston Therapy is a private-pay practice and does not bill insurance directly. We may provide documentation that clients can submit for possible out-of-network reimbursement. HSA and FSA funds may also be used for eligible assessment services.
Insurance reimbursement is determined by the individual plan and cannot be guaranteed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psychological Testing
What is the difference between psychological testing and a psychological assessment?
Psychological tests are individual instruments used to measure areas such as attention, memory, personality, symptoms, or cognitive functioning.
A psychological assessment is the larger process of combining test results with clinical interviews, personal history, behavioral observations, records, and professional interpretation. A diagnosis should rarely be based on one test score by itself.
Do I need a referral for psychological testing?
Most clients do not need a referral to contact Houston Therapy for an evaluation. A therapist, psychiatrist, physician, school, attorney, or another professional may recommend testing, but clients can also seek an assessment on their own.
Insurance plans and outside organizations may have separate referral or documentation requirements.
How do I know which type of evaluation I need?
You do not have to determine that alone. Tell our intake team what you are experiencing and what questions you would like answered. We will help determine whether ADHD testing, autism testing, neuropsychological assessment, diagnostic clarification, or another evaluation is most appropriate.
Can one evaluation assess more than one condition?
Yes. Symptoms frequently overlap, and a comprehensive evaluation may examine several possible conditions.
For example, an ADHD assessment may also consider anxiety, depression, trauma, autism, learning disabilities, sleep problems, and personality functioning. The exact scope will be discussed before testing begins.
Do you test adults for ADHD?
Yes. Houston Therapy provides ADHD evaluations for adults, college students, professionals, and adolescents.
Adult ADHD assessments consider current symptoms, childhood history, executive functioning, emotional health, work or school performance, and other conditions that can resemble ADHD.
Do you provide adult autism testing?
Yes. We provide autism evaluations specifically designed for adults. Adult evaluations consider developmental history, relationships, communication, sensory experiences, masking, routines, focused interests, and conditions that may overlap with autism.
Can I be evaluated for both ADHD and autism?
Yes. ADHD and autism can occur together, and some adults benefit from an evaluation that examines both.
Your evaluator will determine which measures are appropriate based on your history and concerns.
Can psychological testing diagnose bipolar disorder or a personality disorder?
Psychological assessment can contribute important information when evaluating mood or personality disorders. Diagnosis is based on the full clinical picture, including interviews, history, symptom patterns, test data, and differential diagnosis.
Testing may be especially useful when symptoms overlap or previous providers have offered different diagnoses.
Will I receive a written report?
Most comprehensive psychological evaluations include a written report describing the findings, diagnostic conclusions, and recommendations.
The type and length of the report may vary depending on the assessment and its purpose.
Can the report be sent to my therapist, psychiatrist, physician, school, or attorney?
Yes, with your written authorization. Psychological reports contain private health information and will only be released according to applicable privacy laws and professional standards.
Can testing help me receive school or workplace accommodations?
Testing may provide diagnostic information and recommendations that support an accommodation request. However, each school, employer, licensing board, and standardized-testing organization sets its own documentation requirements and makes its own eligibility decisions.
We recommend obtaining the organization’s current requirements before beginning testing.
Can you prescribe medication after an ADHD evaluation?
Psychologists do not prescribe medication in Texas. When appropriate, your evaluation may include a recommendation to consult with a psychiatrist, physician, or other qualified prescribing provider.
The written report can help that provider understand the assessment findings and treatment recommendations.
Do you test children?
Our assessment services primarily focus on adolescents and adults. Contact our intake team with the person’s age and the reason for testing so we can determine whether we provide the appropriate evaluation.
Adult autism testing is limited to adults for now.
What happens if the evaluation does not confirm the diagnosis I expected?
The purpose of testing is to develop the most accurate explanation supported by the available information.
Even when a particular diagnosis is not confirmed, the evaluation may identify other factors contributing to the symptoms and provide recommendations for treatment or support.
Will testing tell me exactly what treatment I need?
Testing can help identify treatment priorities and recommend appropriate services. The final treatment plan should still be developed collaboratively with the client and relevant healthcare providers.
Recommendations may include psychotherapy, medication consultation, executive-functioning support, academic assistance, workplace strategies, lifestyle changes, or medical follow-up.
Is psychological testing confidential?
Yes. Psychological assessment records are protected health information. There are limited legal and safety-related exceptions to confidentiality, which will be reviewed as part of the informed-consent process.
Evaluations requested for legal, employment, disability, or third-party purposes may have different confidentiality terms. Those terms should be explained before the evaluation begins.
How should I prepare for testing?
Try to get adequate sleep, eat beforehand, bring prescribed glasses or hearing aids, and take medications as directed unless your evaluator provides different instructions.
Bring any requested records and arrive with questions you would like the evaluation to address.
How do I schedule psychological testing?
Call Houston Therapy at 713-936-2561, email Info@Houston-Therapy.com, or complete our online contact form.
Our intake team will ask about your concerns, the person’s age, the reason for testing, and any deadlines or documentation requirements. We will then help you identify the most appropriate next step.
Schedule Psychological Testing in Houston
A psychological assessment can help bring together symptoms, history, strengths, and patterns that may have been difficult to understand separately.
Houston Therapy provides ADHD testing, adult autism assessment, learning disability evaluation, neuropsychological assessment, diagnostic clarification, personality testing, and other psychological evaluation services in Houston, Texas.
Call 713-936-2561 or contact us online to ask about availability and find the appropriate evaluation.