Clinical Services

Intellectual/Cognitive Assessment

Child Abuse/Neglect Assessment

Individual Therapy

Personality Assessment

Teletherapy

Let's find the problem.

You’re here because a court has ordered, or your attorney has recommended, that you complete an assessment or evaluation. Your evaluation may be required to provide the court with an answer to a question specific to your charge. Depending on the results of your assessment, your attorney may be able to alter the outcome of your case. Although no guarantees can be made in any case, a psychological evaluation may often be highly beneficial to you in some way.

You may have been accused of an offense by another person who may gain from that accusation. Such accusations are often used in an abusive manner. I will provide a court with an unbiased opinion of what is best for all parties involved. 

You may simply want to know more about who you are as an individual. You may not like one or another aspect of your life, but you are not able to identify how you can change your circumstances. When you learn about your personality characteristics, you can choose how to move forward in working on yourself. We can look at targeted areas and talk about how you may benefit from therapy. 

Forensic assessment has always been a part of my professional existence, beginning in undergraduate school, simply by scoring and proctoring assessments and observing or contributing to group therapy. My assessment skills grew with each degree, practicum, internship, corrections experience, and private practice experience since 1997. This is where I call home.

Forensic assessment is quite different from individual or private assessment in that it is typically ordered by a court or recommended by your attorney. Your assessment will be tailored to the court question and you as an individual. I have access to a very wide variety of assessment measures that can provide an answer to any question required. Because working with courts can be lengthy, time-consuming, and detailed, a retainer fee is required, similar to that of your attorney.

Fees are different for many reasons and are typically not covered by insurance. My fees are within or below the national average.

Family Courts continue to rely on outdated information in making custody decisions, particularly in Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)/Coercive Control (CC) cases. Rather than identifying the cause of the problem, the perpetrator of IPV/CC, victims and their children become the sole focus, as if the protective parent has done something wrong. Expanding and evolving research is consistent in showing the sheer number of IPV/CC victims that become trapped in the family courts. It is also hiighlighting how perpetrators shift their IPV/CC and DARVO (Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender) tactics toward the children in most cases while they remain undetected. It is time to shift the focus. That’s where my work begins. (Read about Family Courts in my articles.)

If you are involved in a custody case, I look for what is in the best interest of the child/children. It is common for children to deny abuse, align themselves with the perpetrator, or be fully aware of their home circumstances. It is also common for children to waver in their reports to legal representatives or agency workers. These are tactics of survival and resilience.

You may need court testimony on your behalf. When you do not have sufficient information to provide to the Court, or you are unable to find your words, I will provide ample information. research, and education to the Court.  Adult survivors of IPV/CC are at increased risk for stunted physical growth in children of young ages, juvenile diabetes, asthma, gastrointestinal issues, and heart and lung problems. As adults, chances exponentially increase for risk of strokes, heart attacks, ongoing gastrointestinal problems, substance abuse, depression, and even suicide.  

You may be required to complete an evaluation. I utilize a wide variety of measures that will measure the strengths and weaknesses of both parents to end the conflict. I do not make decisions on any custody, but can provide the psychological/scientific data for the parents’ needs to solve problems. These evaluations also can be instrumental in determining treatment needs for a parent, and possibly the child/children. I strive to gather the most updated information with ongoing training and education.

Children of IPV/CC require unique and immediate attention in family courts. Children learn from their home environment as witnesses of IPV/CC. Not only has their parent’s perpetrator abused their protective parent, but the perpetrator ensured the child or children could see or hear the abuse. Children receive clear messages from these observations and alter their behavior to comply with the perpetrator, align with them, or at times attempt to intervene. These observations or being in proximity to IPV/CC are staged, intentional, and by design by the perpetrator. Even if a child has not previously been physically harmed, they are equally at risk when parents separate, possibly even more so, which is resulting in fatalities of children at increasing rates. (Read about Family Courts in my articles.)

Children learn from a simple facial expression, a specific look towards them, a perpetrator’s stature or size, the sound or tone of their voice, and even simple gestures that would be unnoticeable to others. Their reports may be fluid and may change due to their susceptibility to the threat of an abusive adult, which is common. These changes in their reports show survival tactics and resilience rather than deception.

Research is now associating medical/physical problems for child victims of IPV/CC. This research now connects the physical development of children, including brain, hormonal, immune system, growth, and psychological health. Constant severe stress adversely alters a child’s brain functioning, hormone levels, and mental health as their “fight or flight” responses remain activated. The infant with the “cold that just won’t go away?” Chronic severe stress in the home environment is likely present.

I have completed, and continue to add, specialized training in  child interviewing and family courts. Learning does not end but continues as new elements of IPV/CC are discovered. My focus has shifted to testifying on behalf of families involved in suspected abuse or neglect cases as well as assessment as needed. 

Child physical/sexual/psychological abuse assessments are where my career began. I have become increasingly skilled at assessing children and adolescents from mild to severe trauma. Trauma is measurable and research supports my conclusions.   

This form of assessment is mainly used to identify specific personal characteristics that you may wish to change in treatment or to find the problems or strengths that can help you progress. These assessments may be combined with Intellectual/Cognitive assessments for a complete overview of your overall psychological functioning for diagnostic purposes. 

Intellectual/cognitive assessments generally look at intellectual capabilities or overall cognitive functioning. I often provide these assessments to identify your strengths or needs, or those of your child.  If your child’s special needs require identification, or if assessment will help your child excel in academics, I can tailor an assessment to maximize services for him or her. 

Individual therapy starts with you, when you’re ready. You’ll let me  know what you think may be going on with you, and we’ll start a plan to work through your specific needs. If you or your spouse both need help, I can work with both of you to resolve issues and how they affect your partner.

I specialize in the treatment of difficult diagnoses. Physical or sexual trauma is one of my specialized areas. My experiences often bring me in contact with various personality disorders, which are most resistant to treatment. However, some associated features of personality disorders can be managed through treatment. 

Let me also include here that asking for help is not a weakness. As a society, we need to recognize that mental health is equally important as our physical health. If you need care, it is imperative that you look for it. 

Teletherapy is new, cutting edge, and upcoming in the field of psychology. I have found that relationships can be easily established without face-to-face contact. It is extremely helpful for people in rural areas who have no way to bridge the distance gap to get the help you need.

Not only can therapy be done via telehealth, but many assessments and evaluations can be completed online now as well. This field has vastly expanded with evaluations utilizing simple email links while we meet online to complete them together. Almost any evaluation that can be done in person can now be done online as well. Online assessment has been most helpful in reducing the amount of time spent in traveling. Completing computerized assessments provides an added bonus that they are computer-scored, which means much increased accuracy. Your data will be correct and tailored to your needs.

My practice is a needs-driven private practice instead of an insurance-driven office or facility. This is a national trend due to significant problems in dealing with insurance companies and poor or refused reimbursements to providers. Self-pay trends are more common now spanning medical and mental health fields and providers. 

It is possible to use your insurance for treatment or psychological assessment reimbursement. I can provide individualized services to you as an out of network provider. Insurance carriers that are PPO or POS plans typically provide these options for you.

You may be entitled to a percentage of OON (out of network) benefits of the treatment or assessment costs. Reimbursement to you varies typically between 50-70% of the full cost. If you have access to the option to use your Health or Flex Account, it may cover your full fees, which is for your tax benefit.

It is best practice to check with your insurance provider to determine benefits for Licensed Clinical Psychologists as OON providers, your deductible and if its been met, and the percentage they reimburse you for your treatment or assessment needs.  I will provide you with a monthly superbill detailing your payment history for services rendered based on your plan.

I strive to offer premium treatment and assessment services without involvement from insurance companies. This also means that your information remains in this office with no opportunity for data outsourcing that insurance agencies often use for data management. In this way, your private information does not leave my office without your consent, except for unavoidable legal issues that may arise. In clinical practice, this is highly unlikely.

Licensed Clinical Psychologists who choose to work with insurance companies have to make sacrifices much like their clients. It’s my preference to preserve the quality of  treatment and assessment to avoid insurance conflicts. my fees are at or below the national average for both treatment and assessment needs. 

It is important to know that with mental health, your participation is voluntary. You determine the course of your treatment and assessment needs. I can disagree and work with you on alternative routes, but ultimately, your decisions are your own regarding beginning, continuing, and terminating services. It is also important to recognize that your mental health is as important as your physical health.  

Using a pre-tax Flex or Health Account for treatment or assessment is a way to save your money and avoid the dealing with insurance demands. Rather than using your health insurance for services, this choice may not always require you to provide a diagnosis or details about your mental health care.

You can also use credit cards associated with your employer sponsored Health Savings Account, Flex Spending Account, or any related account.

Reaching your goals or needs for treatment or assessment can be immeasurable as your pursuit is generally to improve your life, relationships, health, family, and well-being. 

85 min.  An Initial Intake Session for individuals is $200. If it is a Child With Parent Initial Intake, the service is $250.00. Initial sessions require additional time to review Confidentiality, Informed Consent, and gather initial information to determine a course of treatment or assessment. 

50 min. Individual Treatment is $150.00. This is a typical length session. For a Child with Parent, sessions are $175 for 60 minutes.

Phone and on-line coaching or counseling sessions using a secure confidential platform (VSEE) are available if criteria, such as being a NC resident, is met.

Assessment fees are $250.00 per hour. An assessment consists of a Clinical Interview (2 hours), Review of Records (2-4 hours based on need), 1-2 hours per assessment measure, and Report Writing, 2-4 hours based on the scope and extent of report. Each assessment is tailored to suite your needs, so fees will vary and can be modified to fit your financial situation. Again, your insurance agency may assist with covering a good portion of these costs dependent on the need or basis for the evaluation.