Evaluation Center for Learning

I provide the same high level of personalized care I would want for my own children. Families work directly with me throughout the entire process to ensure continuity, consistency, and depth of understanding. I intentionally limit the number of students I see each month to ensure every individual receives my full attention and to allow greater flexibility in meeting each family's needs. This approach allows for highly individualized assessments and a comprehensive roadmap of meaningful, practical recommendations.

My experience is both broad and deep. It includes an internship and a two-year postdoctoral fellowship focused on pediatric neuropsychology during which I worked with a wide clinical spectrum—from rare, complex medical conditions to more common neurodevelopmental and social-emotional challenges. Additionally, I have worked with families from diverse backgrounds, including youth experiencing homelessness, abused and neglected children in a residential home, and adolescents with severe neurodevelopmental disorders. My clinical practice has spanned both affluent communities and underserved populations, including work at a community hospital, large academic medical centers, a college counseling center, and within a school for students with learning differences. This range of experience enables me to provide insightful, comprehensive assessments designed to support well-being and help each individual reach their potential.

Yes. I completed specialized training in pediatric neuropsychology at the University of Chicago, including an externship, predoctoral internship, and two years of postdoctoral training, which meets the professional standards in the field. My time at an academic medical center affiliated with a K–12 school and university afforded extensive experience with children, adolescents, and young adults from a broad range of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds and a variety of presenting challenges. This foundation enables me to evaluate a wide spectrum of neurodevelopmental, learning, psychiatric, and medical concerns to provide a comprehensive understanding of each individual’s cognitive, academic, and socioemotional profile—distinct from more general psychological assessments.

My strengths-based assessment model draws on my pediatric neuropsychology background and nearly a decade of collaboration with learning disability specialists at the Evaluation Center for Learning. This approach is thoughtfully paced and responsive to both parents’ concerns and the child’s individual needs. Because I recognize that each individual is different, my assessments are structured to provide a thorough understanding of cognitive, academic, social-emotional, and behavioral strengths and challenges. This comprehensive approach allows for accurate diagnoses and individualized recommendations that support healthy development and long-term well-being.

A pediatric neuropsychological assessment may be beneficial for children, adolescents, or young adults who have or are suspected of having:

• Learning disabilities (reading, writing, and/or math)

• ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)

• Developmental delays

• Language disorders

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

• Emotional or behavioral challenges

• Medical, genetic, or neurological conditions (such as concussions, brain injuries, epilepsy, or other disorders) that affect cognitive function

Parents often seek an evaluation to understand why their child is struggling in school, having difficulty focusing, or experiencing academic or emotional challenges. Some common questions include:

• Why is my child having trouble learning?

• Does my child have a dyslexia, dyscalculia, or another learning disorder?

• What are my child’s learning strengths and challenges?

• Is my child gifted?

• Why does my child have trouble paying attention or remembering information?

• Why does my child struggle with organization, planning, or time management?

• Has my child’s illness, medical condition, or concussion affected their thinking or learning?

• Why isn’t my child responding to tutoring, remediation, or other interventions?

• What strategies can help improve my child’s academic success?

The results of a thorough neuropsychological evaluation provide meaningful insights and actionable steps, including:

• A profile of cognitive, academic, and social-emotional strengths and weaknesses

• Identification of the root causes of academic, behavioral, or emotional challenges

• Clarification of diagnoses to guide treatment decisions, including the need for therapy or medication

• Documentation to support eligibility for school accommodations and special education services (IEPs and 504 Plans)

• Practical recommendations for academic, social-emotional, and behavioral interventions

• A baseline to monitor changes in functioning or the impact of treatment over time

I conduct all assessments personally. Students and their parents work exclusively with me throughout the entire process. This approach ensures a personalized experience and high-quality, thorough evaluations.

No special preparation is needed. The best way to help your child is to ensure they get a good night's sleep before the assessment.

Your child should bring any necessary medications, glasses, or hearing aids (if applicable). They are also welcome to bring a snack and a drink. If they have a favorite comfort item, they may bring it along; however, if it becomes a distraction, we may need to set it aside to "watch" during testing.

Comprehensive Neuropsychological Evaluation

To ensure a thorough understanding of each student, every comprehensive evaluation includes:

• Record review of previous academic and clinical documents

• Initial interview with parents to discuss history and concerns

• Direct assessment and interview with the student

• Parent and teacher questionnaires 

• Parent feedback session to discuss the results and next steps

• Child feedback session (when appropriate)

• Comprehensive report including a detailed review of findings, clinical impressions, and practical recommendations
  

While teacher questionnaires usually provide sufficient insight, I offer school observations at no additional charge when necessary to clarify a student’s functioning across different environments. Attendance at school meetings (such as IEP or 504 meetings) is not included in the assessment fee but can be arranged separately.

Fees for comprehensive evaluations are based on the complexity and scope of the assessment, with three set-fee tiers. A detailed fee schedule and Good Faith Estimate are available upon request. Please contact me with any questions.

Additional Services

• IQ Testing: Available for a fixed fee; includes a written report and, if needed, a brief follow-up phone call to answer questions. Calls longer than 15 minutes are billed at an hourly rate.

• Abbreviated Evaluations: Targeted assessments for progress monitoring or specific follow-up needs, billed at an hourly rate.

• Consultations: Professional guidance and other services are charged at an hourly rate.

The Evaluation Center for Learning is a private-pay practice. This model allows me to design evaluation based on clinical needs rather than on insurance alone and ensures:

• One-on-one care: Families work exclusively with me throughout the entire process- I do not use trainees or other support staff.

• Comprehensive evaluations: Assessments are tailored to each individual's unique needs rather than limited by insurance company guidelines.

• Flexible and timely scheduling: No long wait times, with prompt responses to correspondence.

• Detailed, high-quality reports: Reports are thorough, actionable, and designed to facilitate timely access to appropriate services.

Many insurers offer partial coverage, but families are encouraged to verify their specific coverage with their insurance provider. To assist with this process, I provide a superbill at the end of the evaluation, which includes information needed to process insurance claims.

While I strive to keep my services affordable, I recognize that the cost of a comprehensive assessment can be significant for many families. To make services more accessible, I offer payment plans. If you’re interested in discussing payment options, please let me know when scheduling.

Because I limit the number of individuals I see each month to provide individualized care, last-minute cancellations leave appointment slots unfilled. Cancellations made with less than 3 days' notice will incur a charge of 50% of the assessment fee. Exceptions may be made for extenuating circumstances, such as illness or emergencies.

While school-based psychoeducational evaluations are useful in determining eligibility for special education services and accommodations (i.e., IEPs and 504 Plans), they are often limited in scope and designed primarily to meet educational requirements. In contrast, my neuropsychological evaluations are typically more comprehensive than what schools offer by:

• Providing a deeper level of assessment: In addition to the expertise of school psychologists, pediatric neuropsychologists receive advanced doctoral and postdoctoral training specifically focused on brain development, brain-behavior relationships, and complex diagnostic clarification.

• Evaluating neurocognitive, academic, emotional, and behavioral functioning: School evaluations primarily focus on determining whether a child qualifies for special education services, whereas a neuropsychological assessment examines how underlying cognitive processes (such as attention, memory, and executive functioning) affect learning and other aspects of functioning in daily life.

• Diagnosing clinical conditions: Unlike most school-based evaluations, a private neuropsychological assessment can formally diagnose conditions such as ADHD, dyslexia and other learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, and other neurodevelopmental, emotional, and behavioral disorders.

• Providing recommendations for beyond the classroom: My assessments provide individualized recommendations for school, home, and other areas of life to support long-term success. 

I value the expertise of school psychologists, teachers, and other school personnel and welcome opportunities to collaborate with them to support the best outcomes for students.

A pediatric neuropsychologist is a licensed clinical psychologist with specialized training in brain-behavior relationships and how brain development affects learning, behavior, and emotions. Pediatric neuropsychologists have advanced training in identifying complex patterns of strengths and weaknesses and integrating cognitive, emotional, medical, and developmental information into a cohesive understanding that goes beyond standard psychological testing.

​​ School Psychologists: Focus primarily on determining eligibility for special education services and school-based accommodations rather than providing a formal diagnosis. Their assessments are typically designed to meet educational requirements and may not include a formal diagnosis or in-depth analysis of neurocognitive functioning. Child Clinical and Counseling Psychologists: Provide therapy and occasionally conduct assessments, but their training is generally broader and less specialized in neurocognitive aspects of learning and development. In contrast, a pediatric neuropsychologist’s training is specifically focused on brain development and the complex interplay among cognitive, academic, and social-emotional development, which allows for a more integrated understanding of a child's profile. Pediatric Psychiatrists: Physicians who diagnose and treat emotional and behavioral disorders, primarily through medication management. Their evaluations do not typically include comprehensive cognitive and academic testing. Pediatric neurologists: Physicians who diagnose and treat neurological conditions (e.g., seizures, migraines, and concussions) in children but do not conduct in-depth evaluations of cognitive, academic, social, emotional, and behavioral functioning. Their evaluations usually do not include the range of standardized cognitive and academic tests used by pediatric neuropsychologists. Developmental Pediatricians: Physicians who assess and treat children with developmental concerns, but their evaluations typically do not include the range of standardized cognitive and academic tests used by pediatric neuropsychologists.