Therapy & Assessment Frequently Asked Questions
Therapy FAQs
How do I schedule an appointment?
To schedule an appointment, please start the process here: https://gracepsychological.com/contact/.
Do I need to bring anything to my first appointment?
We ask that you upload your insurance card and your driver’s license to the client portal prior to your first session. We also require a credit/debit/HSA/FSA card to keep on file for payment. We will send you an electronic receipt for your payments.
What are therapy sessions like?
Sessions are going to vary depending on your therapist’s approach and your goals. But, to simplify it as much as possible, this is a collaborative relationship. In the first session you will get to know one another and talk about what has brought you into counseling. Moving forward you will be setting goals with your therapist and establishing a plan to reach those goals. Every therapist delivers their services differently so depending on their background and training, they will tailor the sessions to your needs and also what strategies are working for you.
How long do therapy sessions last?
Session length will typically vary from 45-55 minutes. Your first session will likely be longer.
Does online therapy work?
The research evidence shows that online therapy is in fact highly effective when compared to in-person therapy.
How do I cancel my appointment?
We have a 24-hour cancellation policy. You can avoid any fee by sending a secure message through the client portal or calling us at 281-815-0899 and leaving a voicemail with 24 hours notice. You should have received an invite to the portal when you scheduled your first appointment with us.
What do I do if I am having an emergency?
If you feel you are a serious threat to yourself or to someone else, please go to your nearest emergency room.
Testing FAQs
How do I make an appointment?
Please submit a New Client Appointment Request to schedule an intake for testing.
New Client Appointment Request
How long does psychological testing take?
Every case varies but we estimate the entire process to take 6-8 weeks depending on your availability. This includes 1 – 2 virtual intake appointment(s), 2 – 3 in office testing sessions, multiple online questionnaires, virtual testing sessions as needed, interview sessions as needed, and a virtual final feedback going over the results and suggestions from the psychologist.
What does psychological testing include?
Though it may vary based on the referral question(s), most evaluations include:
1-hour diagnostic interview to get background and history, typically via telehealth
2-8 hours of face-to-face testing (IQ, learning style, executive functions, memory, cognitive processing, and personality)
Several paper-and-pencil or electronic questionnaires & behavioral checklists
Observations
1-hour feedback session to discuss results and recommendations, typically via telehealth
What type of testing is included?
All assessments include IQ testing and results. A comprehensive evaluation includes a wide range of psychological and neuropsychological testing to determine the presence of various social, emotional, behavioral, or neurodevelopmental differences including:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Sensory Processing Disorder
- Social and Communication Disorders
- ADHD
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Bipolar Disorder
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder
- Conduct Disorder
- Psychotic Disorders
- Personality Disorders
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
Comprehensive Evaluations
Comprehensive evaluations are valuable as they can help provide a more accurate result by ruling out other diagnoses. For example, instead of just evaluating if someone has general anxiety alone, one would also rule out the presence of other factors such as OCD or another condition with overlapping symptoms.
When Autism is a possible diagnosis we also include additional clinically specific interviews, direct testing, and rating scales administered to determine whether Autism characteristics are present.
Extended Academic Testing
Extended academic testing is used to determine the presence of learning disabilities. These tests are not included in the comprehensive testing as not every client needs these. Based on client concerns, history, and some screening tests the psychologist will determine the need for these additional services. This is the type of testing you would need if you were seeking accommodations for any learning disability.
Limitations of Testing
There are some limitations for certain diagnostic tests. For ADHD diagnosis the severity of presenting symptoms and the age of the individual can impact the ability of the clinician to determine a clear diagnosis. Typically for those 5 and under it is harder to determine an ADHD diagnosis except in severe cases. Evaluations at this age can be used to set a baseline for future testing once the child has gotten older.
Other limitations would be other medical issues that would impact the testing, such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, and other cognitive deficits caused by a medical event. We do not have any medical doctors on staff and are not able to provide diagnoses for medical issues. Due to this, generally we can not determine if the issues presented are caused by the medical issue or by other psychological factors.
Stand Alone IQ Testing
IQ testing can not provide diagnoses for psychological conditions, neuropsychological conditions, or learning disorders, however it can give valuable insight into how one learns by measuring overall cognitive abilities including verbal and nonverbal reasoning, visual spatial processing, working memory, and processing speed. IQ testing will highlight strengths and weaknesses showing both gifted areas and areas of struggle. This can be valuable for making decisions for one’s education path and professional development.
Additionally some private schools and specialty programs may require IQ testing for applicants.
IQ testing results can be used for MENSA membership applications.
*If you are seeking IQ as a requirement to qualify for admission to a school or program make sure you let us know when scheduling as sometimes there are additional measures required that are not included in the standard testing.
Evaluations Not Provided For
- Fit to serve
- Fit to testify
- Court Mandated
- Custody Cases
- Job Required Personality Testing
Will my insurance cover testing?
Many insurance plans cover testing; however specific types of testing, such as testing for Specific Learning Disorder or dyslexia, may not be covered. Our billing team will be happy to take your insurance information and verify your benefits & coverage once your intake appointment is scheduled so that you have a good idea of cost ahead of time. **Please note that we are seeing an increase in insurance refusing to pay for services that they initially said that they would cover. If your insurance denies coverage of your services, you will be responsible for any unpaid portion.**
How much will the evaluation cost?
Cost depends on many factors, including your insurance coverage and – if you’re paying out of pocket – the type of evaluation performed. Before starting the evaluation, we’ll talk with you about all the financial factors in order to get the clearest picture of your eventual bill. Call or email to get more information on cost for testing.
Insurance clients, please be advised that your insurance does not guarantee coverage of services. If your insurance denies coverage of your services, you will be responsible for any unpaid portion.
When will I make payment for evaluation?
Payment for appointments is collected following each appointment through the card on file. We can provide an estimate of cost for each appointment for self-pay clients and those using insurance who have a deductible to meet.
Can I have keep my telehealth appointment if I am outside of the state of Texas at the time of the session?
At this time, our clinicians are not able to see clients who are not physically in the state of Texas at the time of the appointment.