Find a Way Forward with Expert Psychological Testing in Northern Virginia
Psychological testing, including comprehensive psychological assessment and neuropsychological testing, is a crucial step toward understanding both cognitive functioning and emotional wellbeing. Whether you’re interested in a mental health screening test for yourself or your child, or you need a thorough psych evaluation to understand cognitive strengths and weaknesses, our services in Fairfax, VA provide detailed clarification and direction for those specific needs.
Here’s How Psychological Testing Can Help
Our psychological, psychoeducational, and neuropsychological testing goes beyond simple symptom clarification. By gaining a deeper understanding of your, or your child’s, unique cognition, and emotional wellbeing through you can tailor treatment and accommodations to leverage specific strengths and address weaknesses.
This approach offers numerous benefits:
Clarify a Diagnosis
Ensure accurate understanding and identification of psychological conditions.
Strategic Information
Gain insights that help in crafting personalized therapeutic strategies.
Improved Relationships
Better understand interpersonal dynamics and improve how you interact with others.
Clarify a Diagnosis
Our comprehensive psychological testing reports guide other mental health and medical providers and professionals in supporting you. You, or your child’s, testing report can, when appropriate, open doors to treatment with therapy and medication, accommodations at school for IEPs and 504 plans, and work accommodations to help you reach your full potential.
Strategic Information
Understand your cognitive structure to discover your inherent strengths and learn how to address any areas of weakness. Carry this strong sense of self into every area of your life, from treatment planning to academic and career support to self-care.
Improved Relationships
Observe your own behavioral patterns from an expert’s point of view to achieve a valuable new perspective on your interactions with others—and yourself.
Collaborate With Professionals Who Care
It’s only natural to expect quality, evidenced based practice mental healthcare from qualified practitioners. FMHW’s evaluations offer patients gold-standard care that they can use to communicate directly with medical providers, schools, and other providers and professionals.
(Not to mention, we’re real people who pick up the phone when you call).
A Team of Qualified Experts
Psychological testing is a dense and nuanced service—one that requires an expert guide. Put your trust in our team of highly qualified professionals who understand the ins and outs of the brain-behavior relationship.
Timely Care & Streamlined Systems
We have a process for everything, including how to achieve thorough diagnostic results and subsequent care. We’ll walk you through every step of the journey, so you can track your progress, focus on you, and look forward to what’s next.
Total Transparency
You should be part of your process. You’ll know exactly what to expect, and why it matters. FMHW’s practitioners are committed to the highest standard of ethical, honest, integrative care.
What We Evaluate For
We conduct the following evaluations, including but not limited to:
ADHD
Learning Disorders
Autism (we administer the ADOS 2)
Fitness for duty evaluations
Bariatric and other pre-surgical evaluations
Processing Disorders
Emotional Concerns
Comprehensive Psychological Testing in Five Simple Steps
Initial Outreach
First, we make sure our practice is the appropriate practice for your needs, whether you’re calling for yourself or a dependent. We’ll then verify your insurance benefits, collect the deposit (which will go toward any copays, deductibles, or other outstanding costs), and schedule the intake appointment and testing day.
Intake Appointment
This hour-long appointment can be conducted online or in person and your provider will gather detailed background information necessary to integrate with test data. Your provider will also learn your reasons for seeking psychological testing and will walk you through the testing process.
Testing Day
Testing evaluations take place in person, and are a thorough, exhaustive process. Most patients will arrive in the morning and can expect to spend the day with us. While this may seem overwhelming, it’s important to exhaust your cognitive abilities just as you would in school or at work, and it provides us with the most comprehensive look of your current functioning.
Test Data Interpretation and Report Writing
Our practitioners will score, interpret, and integrate the data gathered during the testing day. They will then input that data into a comprehensive report. This step of the process takes the most time but leads to the most thorough and useful results. When the report is near completion, our office will contact you to schedule a feedback appointment to discuss the results and recommendations.
Feedback Session
Patients will meet with their practitioner to discuss the results of the testing, hear their recommendations for next steps, and answer any questions you may have.
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Do you offer telehealth medication management services?Many appointments can be conducted remotely. However, as of May 11th, 2023, any patient prescribed a controlled substance will need to come into the office at least once a year, in accordance with the Ryan Haight Act, a federal law.
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Should I see a psychiatrist or a psychiatric nurse practitioner?It all depends on what you’re most comfortable with. Both psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners are highly-trained and experts in their fields. Every patient has different needs and your practitioner will determine if they are the right fit for you.
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Can a nurse practitioner prescribe medication?Yes, a psychiatric nurse practitioner (NP) can prescribe medication and treat you for your condition just as a psychiatrist would.
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If I think I know which medication will help me, will you prescribe it?Our providers will prescribe what they believe to be appropriate for our patients. While your feedback is appreciated, it is 100% up to our providers’ discretion to prescribe what they believe is necessary.
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If I make an appointment, am I guaranteed a prescription?No. Sometimes our medication management providers do not think medication is the appropriate solution for what you are experiencing. Sometimes they will recommend changes in diet, therapy or other solutions.
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What if I’m traveling? Can I still have my appointment?Only if you are traveling in-state. State law mandates that you are physically in the state where your clinician is licensed during your appointment. For all new patients coming in for medication management and therapy, cancellations will result in forfeiture of your deposit. If you reschedule 24 hours prior to your appointment, your deposit will roll over. For established patients, cancellations within 24 hours of the appointment will result in a charge that is the full rate of the service.
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What should I do if I experience side effects from my mental health medication?If you experience side effects from your medication, it's important to notify your healthcare provider promptly. Some side effects might be mild and manageable and short term, but others can be more severe and require adjustments to your medication regimen. Your provider can help determine whether the side effects are typical, if they will likely subside over time, or if your medication needs to be changed. Do not stop taking the medication without consulting your provider. Stopping medications without consulting your provider may result in worsening of your symptoms or other unintended challenges.
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How long does it take for mental health medications to start working?The time it takes for mental health medications to start working can vary widely depending on the type of medication and the individual. For example, antidepressants typically take about four to six weeks to begin showing noticeable benefit, but it can sometimes take longer to experience the full benefits. Medications for other disorders, like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, might show some effects sooner, but also usually require time to reach full efficacy. It's important to have ongoing communication and follow up appointments with your healthcare provider during this period to monitor progress and make any necessary adjustments.
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Is it safe to stop taking mental health medication if I feel better?It is generally not safe to stop taking mental health medication without consulting your healthcare provider, even if you feel better. Many mental health conditions require long-term treatment and stopping medication abruptly can lead to a relapse or withdrawal symptoms. If you feel that you might not need medication anymore, discuss this with your provider. They can assess your situation and, when appropriate, will help you taper off the medication gradually and safely to minimize any potential negative effects. If you have more questions or need personalized advice about managing mental health medications, our team at Fairfax Mental Health & Wellness is here to help. Contact us to learn more about our services and to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced mental health professionals. Together, we can find the right approach for your mental wellness journey.
Recognized for Our Leading Care
Shortly after giving birth to her first child, Dr. Shore founded FMHW because she was passionate about providing high-quality psychotherapy and psychological testing to children, adolescents, and adults alike. FMHW was shaped around that passion: an intentional coalition of highly qualified clinical providers who truly care about the health, well-being, and long-term growth of their clients.