A Step-by-Step Guide to Psychological Evaluations at MCT
- Feb 3
- 4 min read
Considering a psychological evaluation often comes with a mix of curiosity, hope, and understandable uncertainty. Many people know they want more clarity or support, but aren’t quite sure what the process involves.
This guide is meant to walk you through our testing process from start to finish, so you know what to expect and can approach the experience feeling informed, supported, and grounded. Our goal is not just to gather information, but to help you feel seen, understood, and validated throughout the process.
Step One: The Intake Appointment
Clarifying questions and building context
The evaluation process begins with an intake appointment: a conversation to designed to help us understand what brings you in and what questions you’re hoping the evaluation might help answer. This may include concerns related to attention, learning, emotional functioning, behavior, development, or day-to-day functioning across settings. We also talk through relevant history, current supports, and areas of strength.
Just as importantly, the intake is a space for you to ask questions. Many people carry quiet worries about what testing involves or what the results might mean. Those concerns are welcome here. The intake helps us build shared understanding and ensures that the evaluation is purposeful rather than one-size-fits-all.
At the end of the intake, we collaborate on the design of the assessment itself. Rather than administering the same tests to everyone, we select areas of assessment intentionally, based on the questions you want answered. This intentional planning helps ensure the evaluation is focused, efficient, and tailored to each individual's unique needs and experiences.
This is also when we discuss logistics and schedule testing session(s). By the end of the intake, you’ll know what areas will be assessed, how many sessions are expected, and what the timeline will look like moving forward.
Step Two: The Testing Sessions
Paced, flexible, and human
Testing sessions are structured, but they are not rigid. We approach testing with an understanding that people show up with different energy levels, nervous systems, and needs.
Sessions are paced thoughtfully, with breaks built in as needed. We pay close attention to comfort, fatigue, and regulation, and we adjust accordingly. The goal is not to push through, but to gather accurate information in a way that feels manageable and respectful.
Many people are surprised by how relational the testing process feels. Questions are always welcome, and we prioritize creating an environment where you or your child can show up as fully as possible.
Step Three: Data Analysis and Report Writing
Making sense of patterns, not just scores
After testing is complete, there is a period of focused work that happens behind the scenes. While it may feel quiet from the outside, this is an active and intentional phase of the evaluation.
During this time, the clinician carefully reviews all of the information gathered across sessions and begins the process of integration. Rather than looking at individual scores in isolation, we examine patterns across areas of functioning and consider how the data fits within the broader context of history, daily life, and presenting concerns. This step is where understanding begins to take shape.
Report writing is a deliberate and reflective process. Each report is written specifically for the individual or family, with the goal of making the information clear, meaningful, and genuinely useful. We focus on translating complex data into language that supports insight, reduces confusion, and helps guide next steps in a practical way.
Because this work requires time and careful attention, there is typically a short wait between testing sessions and the feedback appointment (no more than two weeks after all data is collected). Many people find it helpful to know that during this period, the clinician is actively working to ensure the results are accurate, thoughtfully interpreted, and presented in a way that honors the full picture of the person being evaluated.
Step Four: The Feedback Session
Understanding results and next steps
The feedback session is a collaborative conversation where we review results in a clear, accessible way.
During this session, we:
talk through key findings and observed patterns
discuss diagnostic impressions, when applicable, with care and context
connect results back to everyday experiences
review recommendations and practical next steps for support
If a diagnosis is part of the discussion, we approach it as a tool for understanding—not a label that defines you or your child. For many people, receiving this information can feel both validating and emotional. We take time to process questions, reactions, and meaning together.
Step Five: Using the Psychological Evaluation
Support that evolves over time
A psychological evaluation is not meant to be an endpoint. It is a foundation for informed support that can continue to evolve over time.
After feedback is complete, we remain available to help clients and families make sense of the results as they begin to apply them in real life. This may include answering follow-up questions, supporting the implementation of recommendations, or coordinating with other providers, schools, or systems involved in care, when appropriate.
Recommendations are intended to be practical and flexible, recognizing that needs can shift as circumstances change. Many families find that clarity deepens over time, and it is common for questions to arise once there is space to reflect or once supports are put into practice. We welcome those conversations.
Our role is to support understanding and use of the evaluation in ways that feel helpful and sustainable, rather than expecting everything to be figured out at once.
A process rooted in support and empowerment
At every stage, our goal is to reduce uncertainty and increase understanding. Psychological testing can feel intimidating when it’s shrouded in mystery. When the process is transparent and collaborative, it often becomes a powerful opportunity for clarity, self-compassion, and meaningful support.
If you’re considering an evaluation and wondering whether this process might be helpful, reaching out doesn’t require commitment—it’s simply a way to begin a conversation.
At McKee Collaborative Therapy, we approach psychological evaluations with care, collaboration, and respect for the whole person. If you’d like to explore whether testing might be a good fit for you or your family, we invite you to get in touch.
