PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS

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Dr. Emily’s Evaluations

Collaborative, Strengths-based, Evidence-based

In a Psychological Evaluation, Dr. Emily is asking:

  • How can I help you? 
  • What do you want to know more about? 
  • What questions do you have about yourself? 

A Psychological Evaluation is:

  • The Collection and Integration of Information on Functioning
  • Important to inform Treatment Planning
  • Evidence-Based Assessment Measures (Interviews, Questionnaires, and Tests)
  • Measures are carefully chosen to answer your specific Questions and Concerns
  • A Therapeutic Intervention 
  • Provides In-Depth Data that helps you and your Treatment Team

YOU deserve the most efficient, effective, and compassionate care.  A psychological evaluation allows for more accurate diagnosis and treatment, which saves on overall costs for mental health services.  If at any time you want a free consultation, I am happy to connect with you.  Please email me at emily@columbiapsychology.com. 

Our evaluations are strengths-based and respectful of your lived experiences.

Dr. Emily uses evidence-based assessment tools that provide a much more scientific and in-depth evaluation than a screening, which is what many people advertising “assessment” do.

Dr. Emily’s thorough evaluations also include an exploration of your strengths in a collaborative process designed to facilitate your healing journey to your true identity.

You deserve to feel seen and heard in much more than a “surface” look at what is behind your struggles. Dr. Emily’s comprehensive evaluations explore differential diagnosis to look at many possible explanations for your symptoms/concerns, and you are given a detailed report with resources.  Since 2009, Licensed Psychologist Dr. Emily has specialized in comprehensive evaluations for ages 16 and older.  She uses evidence-based assessment tools and diagnoses based on DSM 5-TR criteria.  All diagnoses are officially recognized by mental health providers and other medical professions, academic settings, etc. as conclusive.

Please do not waste your time and money with an online “assessment” or with someone who does not have a doctorate degree AND specialized experience in evaluations.  If it seems too good to be true, it probably is because that provider is only looking to rule in/out one diagnosis, without adequate consideration of you as a complex whole person.

Dr. Emily has experience with diagnosing teens (ages 16 and older) and Adults including adult women with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ADHD, PTSD, and the range of mood, anxiety, thought, and Learning Disorders.  Dr. Emily’s tests for Autism include the ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule), which is often required for clients to obtain eligibility for some services.

We do NOT use psychometrists or technicians-Dr. Emily Crawford-Thompson, Ph.D. personally completes all evaluations.  Evaluations include a comprehensive written report with thorough, specific, and detailed recommendations for treatment and services, tailored to individual needs. Feedback includes a thorough discussion of results where you are encouraged to ask questions and share your feelings about direction moving forward.

To request a psychological evaluation, click on the blue button at the bottom of the page, or email emily@columbiapsychology.com  You can refer yourself,  or your counselor or doctor might refer you.  You can e-mail the completed the form to emily@columbiapsychology.com , fax it to 573-818-7012, or call us at 573-818-7010 to give the information over the phone.

Please note, Dr. Emily does NOT work with children under the age of 16.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

What is a psychological evaluation?

  • A psychological evaluation is the collection and integration of information on an individual’s functioning, to inform treatment planning. It includes evidence-based assessment measures (interviews, questionnaires, and tests) that are carefully chosen to answer your specific questions and concerns.  It is a therapeutic intervention in that it provides in-depth data that helps you and your treatment team, because you deserve the most efficient, effective, and compassionate care.
  • During a psychological evaluation, you will meet with Dr. Emily Crawford-Thompson, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist, to discuss areas of your life that are puzzling or troubling to you.
  • Dr. Emily will ask you questions about you and your concerns and ask you to complete tasks and questionnaires designed to help you, and help your treatment providers provide you with the best care.
  • A psychological evaluation allows for more accurate diagnosis and treatment, which saves on overall costs for mental health services.

SENSORY-FRIENDLY HEALING ENVIRONMENT

Columbia Psychology Healing Center is continuously welcoming suggestions as we strive to be a neurodivergent-friendly environment with special attention to reducing sensory overload.  Come see the filtered fluorescent light covers that give a soft dreamy feel of being in the clouds from the moment you walk in.  Enjoy a variety of fidgets, books, toys, and puzzles.  If you like, listen to music, draw/color, or watch a cartoon.  Snacks/drinks available for clients upon request.  Alternative waiting area options may also be available if you prefer more quiet/privacy-just ask your provider.

Sensory Friendly Break Room may also be available upon request on the day of service for clients receiving evaluations with Dr. Emily or Dr. Julie: Take a break and immerse yourself in a cozy, quiet room facing a forest, or turn around to face the beach.  Relaxation CDs, classical music, white noise, and other options are available.   Plushies, blankets including a weighted blanket, bean bag chair, couch, aromatherapy including scented colored pencils, books, prayer cards, emotion wheels, fidgets, crafts, puzzles, and more are waiting for your relaxation enjoyment.

What Clients say about Evaluations with Dr. Emily

 
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“I am really grateful to have found Columbia Psychology Healing Center and will recommend your practice to anyone in need. Thanks again for giving me clarity with your answers, it’s super helpful and understood. I feel like I am headed in the right direction towards healing.”

“I appreciate all of your support and the space you provide me. You are great at what you do and an extremely kind soul! I’ll cart your message and wisdom with me for years to come.”

“Doing an evaluation before therapy is like having a syllabus at the beginning of class.  It gave me direction and the language to help the therapy process.  It also helped me see what is possible, which gave me hope for my future.”

“Of all the people we’ve worked with, you have taken the most time to really understand and this is so thorough and helpful.  Thank you.  You’ve given us hope.”

“You changed my life for the better.  I know I will remember and think of you fondly often for the rest of my life, with gratitude, knowing you took the time to really see me.”

“You are a Godsend.  (She) mentions you every once in a while in a positive thought.”

“Thank you for being so kind, professional and buttoned up. You also have this kind warmth about you. I was really worried he would not finish the testing, but he felt very comfortable with you. “

“This is amazing, there are so many resources.  It closes a door and opens up others.”

“Such a positive and validating experience.  She really liked you and said you made her feel comfortable and that you were genuine.”

“You were a great doctor to work with and this has been a very positive experience; I highly recommend you.”

“The evaluation and subsequent treatment I’ve received have really helped me in a lot of ways, and my life is definitely taking an unexpected and awesome turn. I really appreciate it.”

“Your guidance and support from the very first day has definitely made a difference, and your energy and calming spirit has carried with me.”

“You are really easy to talk to.  I’m surprised how much I opened up.  I didn’t think I would.  Thank you so much for all your hard work.  I’m feeling relieved and very hopeful.”

“This was definitely a good idea.  You are amazing.  This was a great experience.  Often people on the spectrum feel drained after testing, but I didn’t because you made this very comfortable and put me at ease.”

“Thank you – I thoroughly enjoyed getting your expertise & your personal down-to-earth-ness! You made my experience so light and enjoyable.”

“I feel validated.  This is so informative and spot on, but worded in a different way than what I would have thought of myself, which is super helpful.”

“You are clearly doing what the Lord has called you to do.”

“This is the best thing I have ever done.  This explains so much, and I feel better already just knowing what is going on.”

“This is so amazingly helpful.  I will be reading this again several times; there is so much in here I find valuable.  Thank you so much!”

“Thank you for your thorough assessment.  It was information we have needed for a long time, and the first time we received feedback that was right on target and seemed to explain our son perfectly.”

” I feel relieved.  Things are a lot less scary when you have a name for it.  I’m glad to have direction rather than just trying different medications and questioning whether I am being treated for the right diagnosis.”

“It’s been more helpful than I can describe.”

“I could tell all along it was your goal to find answers and give direction, so I felt relieved already.”

“This is a beautiful document.  I’m amazed at the amount of work you did and how many helpful resources there are and how well-organized it is.”

“I feel like I have a narrative to my struggles, which accurately reflects my experience.”

“I am excited that my therapy will now have a direction.”

“I am so glad I did this.  I have closure and I know where to start.  It is very helpful.  I really appreciate it, it’s definitely worth it!”

“I think you’re amazing, you’re super nice and good at what you do.”

“Thank you.  This explains a lot.”

“I am so glad I did this.  This validates my experiences and now I’m more aware of some things I need to work on.”

“I think you’re excellent.”

“I am glad I did this; it’s a learning experience that provides opportunities for me to grow.”

“I am glad to see my strengths.  And the results are consistent with feedback that others have given me, but more in depth.”

“This experience has restored my faith in the mental health community.”

“It was very validating.  I felt like we now have more of the whole picture.  It was all worth it.  The diagnosis is helping me reframe a lot of things that used to be shameful.  I am looking forward to trying new things and utilizing all the resources you gave me.”

“I feel an immense sense of relief.  This has been wonderful.  Thank you for the detailed report.”

“I don’t feel as broken.  There is glue nearby.  I am glad you are doing what you do.  I couldn’t imagine talking to someone with more empathy.  You gave me the best present.”

“I never had that many resources provided to me.  It is amazing!”

“This process has been great; you’ve been so encouraging and positive.”

“This is wonderful.  You changed my life!”

“This is an incredibly in depth look at me, I’m impressed. Thank you for taking so much time to go through it all with me.  I really appreciate it!”

“Thank you so much.  The report was really really well-written and affirming.  I really appreciate it.”

What Other Providers say about Evaluations with Dr. Emily

 
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“WOW!! This is wonderful! I have a feeling that we will be referring to your report, and to other resources suggested in your report, for years to come.”

“I have been testing and reading others’ reports for the past 50 years and want to congratulate you on a very well-written and helpful one. I found your paragraphs to be very pithy, well-written, accessible, and useable.  Thanks for doing a good job.”

“You were recommended to us as ‘one of the most kind, caring,  patient, and loving people.”

“The report is extremely helpful, and very insightful. The recommendations are excellent.”

“She clearly feels safe with you and that speaks volumes.”

“Your work is impeccable.”

“Dr. Emily has a wonderful reputation in Columbia and offers good, comprehensive evaluations.”

“Dr. Emily and Dr. Julie do wonderful work.  We refer all our psych testing clients to them.  They do incredible work.”

“I have been sending clients to Dr. Emily for years, and her assessments are worth the cost. I’ve not come across another psychologist that checks all boxes (comprehensive, thorough, so insightful as to the potential contributing factors of a client’s diagnosis, abundant resources, clear and specific treatment recommendations, etc.) like Dr. Emily does.  She does this work with love and integrity! So grateful she is in Columbia.”

“I think Columbia Psychology Healing Center does some of the best evaluations in town. They are really thorough, so I always recommend them to my clients.”

“When I practiced in Columbia, I utilized Dr. Emily Crawford-Thompson to get high quality assessments completed for my clients who needed them. I’m so glad to hear her practice has two doctoral level psychologists doing them at Columbia Psychology Healing Center LLC now. A good assessment, while having costs associated in the short run, can save individuals significant costs and frustrations of potentially years of inappropriate treatments.”

“Dr. Emily Crawford-Thompson is a fantastic person who does superior comprehensive evaluations for both ADHD and Autism. I highly recommend her and her colleagues.”

“For years I’ve referred clients to Dr. Emily Crawford-Thompson for ADHD evaluations and/or for diagnostic clarity otherwise.  Honestly I’ve never seen a psychological evaluation report come back more thorough than those from Emily, outside of full forensic psych testing. She makes helpful recommendations to clients and has been so helpful to me as a med management provider when trying to think differently about how to approach clients’ symptoms for the safest, best mental health support. Highly, highly recommend.”

What is a Psychological Evaluation?

  • A psychological evaluation is the collection and integration of information on an individual’s functioning, to inform treatment planning. It includes evidence-based assessment measures (interviews, questionnaires, and tests) that are carefully chosen to answer your specific questions and concerns.  It is a therapeutic intervention in that it provides in-depth data that helps you and your treatment team, because you deserve the most efficient, effective, and compassionate care.
  • During a psychological evaluation, you will meet with Dr. Emily Crawford-Thompson, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist, to discuss areas of your life that are puzzling or troubling to you.
  • Dr. Emily will ask you questions about you and your concerns and ask you to complete tasks and questionnaires designed to help you, and help your treatment providers provide you with the best care.
  • A psychological evaluation allows for more accurate diagnosis and treatment, which saves on overall costs for mental health services.

What Types of Evaluations do you do?

Please note: Dr. Emily does NOT work with children under the age of 16.

How will an Evaluation Help me?

LEARN WHAT IS RIGHT; HEAL WHAT IS LEFT

  • Are you a teen or adult who wonders about the possibility of Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, PTSD, or another diagnosis(es)?  I do comprehensive psychological evaluations with the best evidence-based measures in order to differentiate diagnosis, so that you can be confident in your results and treatment recommendations, including College Board Test (ACT/SAT) and College Accommodations for ADHD and Learning Disorders.
  • While clarifying diagnosis and making treatment recommendations is certainly a large part of what I do, I also try to help you discover and restore your true identity.  I focus on “what’s right” with you, and help uncover strengths that you may not have realized were strengths, or that may have been dormant and hidden for a long time.  People who meet with me find that I make this process both comfortable and rewarding.
  • Learn what is right; heal what is left When I ask people what their goals are, I often hear, “I want to know what’s wrong with me.”  While I will help you learn more about your struggles and how to heal them, I also emphasize learning what is “right” with you.  I help you discover your strengths in the midst of the struggle. I take my time to really get to know you and understand how you see yourself, and the use of standardized assessment tools ensures that you are getting the most accurate information about you and the diagnosis(es) or struggles you have.
  • Do you want to know more about your personality or why you do what you do? Maybe there is something that you have been struggling with for a long time, and you feel “stuck” and hopeless about making progress.  I have a lot of experience helping people get “unstuck” from a variety of complex problems, with my psychological evaluation process.   In this process, I take my time with you to really get to know you and hear you talk about yourself.  I believe that people know themselves better than they are often given credit for, and each and every individual deserves to be really listened to and heard.
  • With our evidence-based and collaborative psychological evaluations, you learn a lot about yourself and you walk away with a tangible product that you can review every time you need a bit of hope or encouragement-when you complete an evaluation with me, I provide you with a comprehensive and strengths-focused written report with detailed and practical recommendations for treatment and services. I also discuss all the results with you and answer your questions in a detailed feedback session.  Evaluation is an intervention that creates an opportunity for a detailed dialogue and objective understanding of your concerns and treatment goals.

WHAT IS THE PROCESS LIKE?

A psychological evaluation with Dr. Emily Crawford-Thompson, Ph.D. takes place in three sessions:

  • In the first session, you will meet with Dr. Emily for about an hour so that she can learn more about you and your history, understand what problems or concerns you are currently experiencing, and learn about your goals for the evaluation.  You are encouraged to reflect on areas of your life that are puzzling or troubling to you.
  • In the second session, you will meet with Dr. Emily again for anywhere from 2-4 hours to answer some more specific questions tailored to your individual needs.  You will likely complete some standardized, evidence-based questionnaires, which will help you learn more about your personality, any possible diagnosis, and specific recommendations to help you, your counselor, and your other treatment providers.  Depending on your goals, you might also be asked to participate in some tasks that help us learn more about your strengths as well as areas where you might need help.  You are not expected to answer everything correctly or to excel at everything, there is no way to “fail” a psych eval, and so you are simply asked to do the best you can.  Every effort is made to ensure your comfort throughout the evaluation (e.g. snack breaks and opportunities to ask questions, etc.), and most people find that the time goes by surprisingly fast.
  • After Dr. Emily reviews all the data, a comprehensive report is written and provided to you in the third session, a feedback session (about an hour) in which you have the opportunity to review all the results and recommendations and ask questions about the report, which is yours to keep.  Dr. Emily emphasizes a collaborative, humanistic approach to evaluation that highlights your strengths and promotes resilience.

HOW WILL AN EVALUATION HELP MY COUNSELOR?

  • Completing a psychological evaluation accelerates your therapy progress. Psychological evaluations help you hit the ground running by identifying treatment goals, and focusing in on the most pressing issues with a more in-depth understanding of the specific symptoms and struggles you are experiencing.
  • Each evaluation report contains thorough data and summaries of all the tests, diagnosis(es), and specific and practical treatment recommendations and resources.  An evaluation provides clarity on any relevant diagnosis(es) such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, PTSD, or other diagnosis(es), and offers detailed and thorough treatment recommendations, including College Board Test (ACT/SAT) and College Accommodations for ADHD and Learning Disorders.
  • In addition, psychological evaluations help you become more aware of one of your most powerful inner resources-your strengths.  Every person has a purpose.  Every person has a message.  Every person has a unique set of strengths.  It is my life’s passion to help you discover or re-discover who you really are. You are NOT your symptoms, diagnosis, or struggle.  Your strengths are an untapped resource and major clue into who you are.  It is my pleasure and honor to help empower you to discover these strengths, which will help you in current and future struggles.  Psychological Evaluations help you and your counselor build on your strengths.
  • In addition, many people find that the process of participating in a psychological evaluation fosters increased insight, as the questions you are asked naturally lead to self-reflection and raise awareness of patterns in thinking and relationships.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT PERSONALITY DISORDERS?

  • It is not uncommon for individuals with a trauma history to develop ways of relating to themselves and other people that reflect wounds.  Trauma can wound us in many ways; for example, in one evidence-based treatment for trauma, Cognitive Processing Therapy, we address how trauma has affected the ability to trust, feel safe, have a sense of power or control, be intimate or close with others, and hold people (including ourselves) in high esteem or regard.  Rather than judging interpersonal patterns as a “disordered personality,” I prefer to think of these patterns as a complex reaction to trauma.
  • In general, diagnostic labels are useful when they are used correctly; that is, to communicate a lot of information in a succinct manner that facilitates treatment. Beyond that, they are just a term that should not ever be used in a manner that judges, causes shame, or encourages stigma.
  • Interested readers might also take note that Marsha Linehan, Ph.D., the psychologist who developed the treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder, acknowledged that she herself has had this diagnosis.  This should give all those who have received such a label hope that no diagnosis, no matter how stigmatizing its label appears to be, need prevent you or limit you in any way from living into your full potential.  After all, Dr. Linehan is a very successful psychologist and professor who has helped a great deal of people.

THREE SIMPLE WAYS TO CONTACT COLUMBIA PSYCHOLOGY HEALING CENTER LLC:

  1. 1.EMAIL emily@columbiapsychology.com 
  2. 2.CALL 573-818-7010 
  3. 3.REQUEST A PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION BELOW
REQUEST A PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION WITH DR. EMILY-CLICK HERE FOR PRINTABLE REFERRAL FORM

Columbia Psychology Healing Center LLC

1900 N. Providence Rd. #327
Columbia, MO 65202

P: 573-818-7010

F: 573-818-7012

emily@columbiapsychology.com

Office Hours
Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.