Psychological evaluations
Comprehensive and collaborative academic and psychodiagnostic assessments in Denver, Colorado.
When you need more than a label, we help you understand the full picture.
Comprehensive psychological evaluations for children, adolescents, and adults seeking answers about learning, attention, development, behavior, neurodivergence, and other complex questions.
At Greenlake Psychology, every assessment is conducted and interpreted by two psychologists, bringing multiple perspectives to answer the questions that are most important.
Different perspectives. Deeper integration. A fuller understanding.
At Greenlake Psychology, we look beyond a single symptom or diagnosis to understand patterns across multiple areas. The goal isn't simply to identify what's wrong. It's to uncover patterns, clarify concerns, and highlight potential so you know what to do next.
The diagnosis may be part of the answer. It may not be the whole answer.
We understand complexity.
There is rarely one explanation for the way a person thinks, learns, behaves, or relates to others.
A child who can't focus may be struggling with ADHD—or anxiety, a learning difference, giftedness, sleep, stress, or a combination of factors. An adult wondering about autism or ADHD may be trying to understand years of experiences that don't fit neatly into one diagnosis.
That's why we don’t simply test for the diagnosis you already suspect. We ask what fits. We ask what doesn't. We consider alternative explanations. And we look for patterns that might otherwise be missed.
Sometimes the person isn't the problem. The pattern is.
Most psychological evaluations are conducted by a single psychologist. At Greenlake Psychology, every assessment is collaborative.
Different perspectives reveal a fuller picture.
We can assess questions related to:
ADHD and attention
Autism and neurodivergence
Cognitive functioning
Learning differences
Anxiety, depression, bipolar, and other emotional concerns
Personality and interpersonal patterns
Impact of trauma
Longstanding or confusing difficulties
Complex or overlapping concerns
Two psychologists.
One integrated assessment.
Dr. Keegan Walker
Dr. Walker leads our assessment team and brings specialized training in neuropsychological assessment, trauma, and clinical health psychology.
Dr. Rachel Gall
Dr. Gall brings expertise in clinical psychology and family dynamics, along with years of experience supporting children and families in school settings.
Child and Adolescent Assessment
Parents often seek an evaluation when something isn’t adding up.
Their child may be bright but struggling academically. They may have intense emotions, difficulty with attention, social challenges, behavioral concerns, or a combination of strengths and difficulties that don’t fit neatly into one explanation.
For a child, the right understanding can help avoid years of ineffective interventions, tutoring, or behavioral strategies that aren't addressing the underlying issue. It can help parents respond to their child's needs earlier, support the development of academic and social skills, and make more informed decisions about school and treatment. You can learn in a few hours what not to spend the next few years trying.
We want to understand the child, not just the test results.
Adult Assessment
Adults often seek assessment after years of adapting without quite understanding why some things seem harder than they should.
They have always felt different. Or, something has changed and strategies that used to work no longer do. Sometimes they have received a diagnosis that explains part of their experience but leaves important questions unanswered. Sometimes, they see themselves in a recently evaluated child and have questions of their own.
An evaluation as an adult can provide a framework for understanding patterns that shaped your relationships, work, learning, or daily life for years.
the assessment process
step one
Interview
We begin by understanding what brought you in, what you've noticed, what you've already tried, and what questions you hope the evaluation will answer.
step two
Testing
We select current, research-supported assessment tools based on your specific questions rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach. Testing is completed over 1-2 days.
step three
Analysis
We bring the results together with your history and other relevant information. We look at the larger pattern and ask how the different pieces fit together.
step four
Feedback
We explain the findings in clear language, answer your questions, and talk through what the results mean. The feedback session occurs approximately 5 weeks after your initial intake session.
step five
A Roadmap Forward
Your written report provides a detailed summary of the findings and recommendations. It can be shared with healthcare providers, therapists, schools, or other professionals to help translate what we've learned into meaningful support. The report is sent to you approximately a week after your feedback session to ensure we have incorporated all relevant information.
An investment in understanding
Our assessments are offered on a private-pay basis only so the evaluation process can be guided by clinical questions, not by insurance requirements.
Please note that we do not complete Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs) or forensic evaluations.
For more information, see our blog post on what makes a comprehensive evaluation different.
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A focused look at intellectual and cognitive functioning. Best suited for school admissions, qualification for Gifted & Talented programs, or to determine appropriate services for those already diagnosed with a disability. These evaluations are not diagnostic.
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An evaluation of learning and academic skills to understand your student’s unique learning profile when school performance or learning differences are a concern.
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An extensive evaluation of emotional, behavioral, developmental, cognitive, and executive functioning. This evaluation may include neuropsychological testing.
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The most in-depth evaluation, bringing together cognitive, academic, emotional, behavioral, developmental, and other relevant areas to understand the larger pattern. This assessment combines our academic and psychodiagnostic evaluations.
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Following an assessment, we can attend your child’s IEP meeting to explain the findings, provide clinical perspective, and support the devleopment of an educational or behavioral plan.
Planning Your Evaluation
Because our evaluations involve multiple appointments and significant clinician time, our assessment calendar often fills several weeks or months in advance.
If you’re considering an evaluation, we encourage you to reach out early.
Not sure what kind of assessment you need? Give us a call. You don’t have to diagnose yourself before you start.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psychological Evaluations at Greenlake:
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There isn't one test that can definitively establish any psychological diagnosis. Questionnaires and individual tests can provide valuable information, but they are only part of the picture.
Looking for only one diagnosis can mean missing something important. For example, a child's difficulty sitting still might relate to ADHD, but it could also reflect anxiety, boredom associated with advanced academic abilities, trauma, or a combination of factors.
A comprehensive psychological assessment brings together multiple sources of information to understand a person's strengths, challenges, and needs. Depending on the referral questions, we may select assessment tools to evaluate cognitive and executive functioning, attention, behavior, mood, personality, development, and academic skills.
Our doctoral-level psychologists have extensive training in psychological testing, clinical reasoning, data interpretation, and differential diagnosis. We maintain a carefully selected library of assessment tools so we can choose methods suited to a wide range of concerns.
The goal is to understand how the pieces fit together, rather than relying on a single test or symptom to explain the whole person.
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An assessment may result in a diagnosis, but we cannot guarantee a particular outcome. You may come in hoping to confirm a suspected diagnosis or rule one out. Sometimes the findings support your initial understanding. Other times, they point in a different direction.
We let the findings guide our conclusions rather than looking only for evidence of a diagnosis we already suspect. Our responsibility is to provide an informed, evidence-based interpretation of the results, even when the answer differs from what you expected.
See our blog for more information about this question.
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Yes, a comprehensive assessment can help clarify how different concerns may be contributing to what you're experiencing. ADHD, anxiety, trauma, depression, and other conditions can share symptoms. Difficulty concentrating, for example, might reflect ADHD, anxiety, disrupted sleep, trauma, or several factors at once.
We look beyond individual symptoms to understand their history, context, and how they fit together. Our goal is to develop a clearer picture of what's happening, not simply to identify a diagnosis.
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Not every assessment leads to one definitive diagnosis. Sometimes the findings clarify what's happening. Other times, they reveal that several factors are interacting, that a diagnosis doesn't explain the whole picture, or that more information is needed.
We consider the findings alongside your history, strengths, challenges, and experiences outside the testing room. Even without one simple answer, an assessment can help identify useful supports and clarify what to explore next.
Ultimately, our goal is to help you understand yourself or your child better, regardless of diagnosis.
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We approach neurodiversity with respect for the strengths, identities, and support needs of neurodivergent people.
Our approach emphasizes understanding how a person's brain works and what helps them thrive. Recommendations may focus on self-advocacy, communication, sensory accommodations, practical supports, and building on individual strengths.
We do not use or recommend applied behavior analysis (ABA) interventions or principles. We aim to help people better understand themselves, access meaningful support, and develop ways of navigating the world that respect who they are.
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Assessment results can help inform requests for school supports, workplace accommodations, and other services. Your report may explain how you learn, process information, manage attention, or experience emotional and behavioral challenges, along with recommendations tailored to your needs.
An assessment report does not automatically guarantee eligibility for accommodations. Schools, employers, and other organizations may have their own documentation requirements.
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These evaluations can overlap, but they often focus on different questions. A psychological assessment may explore intellectual functioning, attention, learning, emotions, behavior, personality, and developmental concerns.
A neuropsychological assessment typically focuses more specifically on cognitive abilities such as memory, attention, language, processing speed, and executive functioning, often in relation to neurological conditions or brain functioning.
The right evaluation depends on what you're trying to understand. If you're unsure which type you need, we can talk through your concerns and help determine whether our services are a good fit.
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You don't need to study or practice before a psychological assessment. We recommend getting a good night's sleep, eating beforehand, taking prescribed medication as directed, and wearing comfortable clothing.
Sleep, stress, medication, substance use, and nutrition can all affect test performance. During your intake, please let us know about anything that might influence how you feel or function on testing day. This helps us interpret your results accurately and understand what your performance may tell us about your everyday functioning.
If you have sensory needs, fatigue concerns, or use adaptive devices, let us know so we can plan accordingly.
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You can explain that they'll spend time doing activities, answering questions, and working with a psychologist to better understand how they learn, think, feel, and experience the world. The goal is to understand them better and identify ways to support them.
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Yes. We ask a parent or caregiver to remain onsite throughout a child's assessment so they're available if questions or unexpected issues arise. If your child is old enough to drive themselves, we can discuss whether different arrangements are appropriate.
Our waiting room has Wi-Fi, coffee, and snacks. We'll explain what to expect ahead of time so you and your child can feel prepared.
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Most of the work happens after testing. A comprehensive assessment averages around 20 to 30 hours of psychologist time, including interviewing, reviewing records and other sources of information, interpreting test results, considering possible explanations, and writing the report.
We integrate the findings across different areas of functioning to understand what they mean together. Your report is typically 20 to 30 pages and includes personalized recommendations intended to guide treatment, educational planning, accommodations, and other next steps.
The goal is not just to explain test scores. It's to translate the findings into information you can use.