We do not list our mental health evaluation cost because too many factors go into it – we design a unique battery of tests around your questions and hopes. The cost of a mental health evaluation can vary widely depending on several factors, including the evaluation’s purpose, the assessment’s complexity, the location (virtual is cheaper), and the type and number of psychological tests.
Of course, we will discuss the cost of the mental health evaluation with you before we start, and you’ll have input on how we put it all together. If you can get a psychological evaluation for a lower cost elsewhere, we will help you look into that and thoroughly vet that possibility. If we can provide some testing and you can get other testing through insurance, we will also help you look into that.
Factors That Determine Mental Health Evaluation Cost
The cost of a mental health evaluation can vary widely depending on what you are looking for, whether you want to be seen in person, and whether insurance will pay. Here is more detail about the factors that can influence the mental health evaluation cost:
Type of Assessment and Mental Health Evaluation Cost
The price you will pay can vary depending on the specific type of evaluation needed. Common types of evaluation we do include clinical assessments, neuropsychological assessments, educational assessments, forensic assessments, and more. Each one has a floor cost. The time required to complete the evaluation and the complexity of the assessment can influence the cost of a mental health evaluation. More comprehensive evaluations often come with higher fees. Intelligence Quotient (IQ), eIQ tests, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and compatibility testing are the least expensive, while neuropsychological, autism, and general Personality evaluation costs more.
Geographic Location and the Cost of a Mental Health Evaluation
The cost of our Autism Spectrum Disorder services can vary significantly depending on whether you will be seen in person, remotely, or with a hybrid approach. Remote and hybrid testing allows you to do some of the testing at home, cutting the overall time needed.
Insurance Coverage and Mental Health Evaluation Cost
If you have health insurance that covers psychological assessments, the price may be significantly reduced. We do not directly take insurance, but we can provide you with a bill you can submit to get reimbursed for some of the charges. Check with your insurance provider to understand what is covered.
Interpretation and Reporting
The mental health evaluation cost includes the time and effort required to interpret the results and provide a detailed report. Some tests take longer to interpret, and some referral questions need a more extended report. There are also many cases where you may want more than one report – a full psychological testing report and a shorter and more tailored one that you might send to an employer or school.
Additional Considerations in Mental Health Evaluation Cost
Some other aspects of the psychological assessment cost to keep in mind:
- Depending on your needs, there may be other services included in the evaluation, such as follow-up appointments, letters that must be written to schools or employers, or forms that need to be filled out. This added time can affect the total price.
- Some providers charge fixed costs for each type of psychological testing. This can help make things more predictable, but it also means that you may overpay if the testing moves more quickly than expected or underpay, meaning that you don’t get all the tests you need. We charge hourly, but we try to give you an accurate cost range. We do not go over the high end of the range even if the testing takes longer.
- As mentioned earlier, your psychological assessment cost may be lower if you can do some of the testing at home. Some tests allow for this, and we won’t charge you as long as we are unavailable for the entire time.
- Re-testing is almost always much less expensive than your original psychological testing. Re-testing can be helpful if you want to check on the effectiveness of interventions or accommodations you chose, and it usually involves only giving a partial battery or parts of different tests.
- The more specific the questions or the issue being tested, the lower the cost of a mental health evaluation in most cases. Some people choose psychological testing to provide broad conclusions, as with general personality evaluation, projective testing, and full assessments. These batteries are generally more expensive than Intelligence Quotient (IQ), autism testing, or sports performance testing, where the goal is more specific.
Your mental health evaluation cost should not be a mystery. You should be able to sit down with the person providing the testing before you pay anything and get a projected cost. During the testing, if additional services might be helpful, the person might inform you of that.
Is the Cost of a Mental Health Evaluation Worth It
Whether the cost of a mental health evaluation is worth it depends on various factors:
- Clarity and Understanding: Assessments can provide deep insights into psychological functioning, which can be invaluable for understanding oneself or others better. This is especially true if you use the results in your current therapy or find a therapist who is a good fit.
- Treatment Planning: Results from assessments can guide tailored treatment plans that may include therapy and other forms of help, leading to more effective interventions and strategies for personal growth or addressing mental health concerns.
- Career and Education: Assessments like career aptitude tests or educational assessments can guide choosing the right career path or educational direction, potentially influencing future success and satisfaction. They can be used even if you don’t plan to leave your current position or job to help you improve your performance, enjoyment, and effectiveness.
- Legal or Clinical Needs: In some cases, assessments are necessary for legal purposes, such as in court cases or clinical diagnoses, enabling access to appropriate support or accommodations. This is particularly true if you may have a learning difference, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or autism and need interventions to do your best at work or school.
- Validation and Clarity: For individuals experiencing confusion or seeking validation about their psychological state, assessments can provide clarity and validation, reducing anxiety or uncertainty.
However, whether the cost of a mental evaluation is “worth it” can be subjective and dependent on individual circumstances. It might be worthwhile if the assessment’s outcomes significantly impact your life, relationships, or well-being.
Before deciding, weigh the potential benefits against the cost and consider alternatives, such as therapy or counseling, which might provide similar insights at a lower price.
Getting Your Fee
To determine the exact cost of a psychological evaluation, it’s best to contact us and discuss what you are looking for in psychological testing. We will try to find a path to getting you the answers you are looking for while keeping costs as low as possible. The price can vary widely, so we welcome you to get multiple mental health evaluation cost quotes and find a provider that meets your needs and budget, but make sure you are comparing the same test batteries. More information is provided in this post about the cost of psychological testing.
We can also provide other methods to get your desired answers, such as Psychological Therapy. For those who hope that insurance will pay some or all of the mental health evaluation cost, we can refer you to well-qualified and trusted providers who can serve you.
Being informed is the best way to keep the mental health evaluation cost low!
