Frequently Asked Questions

Figuring out the best ways to help yourself, your child, or your loved one can be an overwhelming process. Parents and families often have questions about the best ways to seek services or the types of services that are available. We are happy to respond to any questions that you might have. Feel free to submit questions via email or our website, or contact us today to schedule a consultation appointment to discuss your individual situation. 

What can I expect at an initial appointment?

At an initial appointment, our job is to find out what you need from our services. We will interview you regarding your referral concerns, describe the types of services we can offer, and come to an agreement regarding next steps. This will include an in-depth interview. We will also describe your rights, including the right to privacy. We will discuss limits to confidentiality and get formal, written consent for services. We will come to an agreement regarding cost of services and provide you with a contract. We will agree to a timeline for services to be completed.

What's involved in the evaluation process?

The evaluation is largely driven by your referral concerns. At the initial appointment, we will obtain additional information about the type of answers you are seeking, and this will determine the types of evaluations that are necessary. Evaluations are individualized based on specific information related to the client; we would never perform evaluations in a one-size-fits-all manner. Additionally, we will use initial evaluation data to drive decisions about the next steps in the evaluation process. Our staff subscribes to a data-based problem solving methodology, and we consider research-based best practices in psychology when deciding how to perform evaluations. Once the evaluation is completed, we will provide you with a written evaluation report, and we will have an informing meeting. At this informing meeting, we will verbally go through our major findings and provide data-based recommendations for next steps. If appropriate, we can help connect you to other agencies based on evaluation findings.

Is there a wait list for evaluation?

Because NPALA, Pllc has three psychologists that have broad specialization in psychoeducational evaluations for a variety of concerns, we can generally schedule an intake appointment within one to two weeks of your contacting us, regardless of the referral concern. Although some agencies around Nashville have a months-long waiting list for autism assessments including the ADOS-2, that is not the case at NPALA, Pllc. Contact us today for an estimate on when we can schedule an initial consultation for your specific situation.