Psychological Testing · Diagnostic Assessments
Diagnostic Assessments: Clarifying the “What” so treatment can focus on the “How.”
Diagnostic assessments (sometimes called psychodiagnostic assessments) help identify and differentiate mental health conditions so treatment can be targeted and effective. Instead of months of trial-and-error with medications or therapy alone, a structured assessment offers a clearer roadmap forward.
At Dynamic Reflections, we blend in-depth interviews with standardized, research-based tools to clarify what’s happening, rule out look-alike conditions, and support better treatment planning with your therapist, prescriber, or care team.
“Testing you can’t get wrong” means the responsibility is on the assessment, not on you. Our job is to map the pattern—not judge the person.
What is a diagnostic assessment?
A diagnostic assessment is a structured evaluation that looks at your history, current symptoms, and patterns across time to determine which diagnoses—if any—best describe your experience. These assessments draw on in-depth interviews, standardized questionnaires, and formal psychological tests, not just quick screening tools.
The goal is to clarify what is actually going on, differentiate between overlapping conditions (for example, trauma and ADHD, or depression and bipolar spectrum), and give your care team a shared map for next steps.
Diagnostic questions we can help answer
Clients often come to us when they have been in therapy or treatment already but something still feels unclear. Diagnostic assessments can help clarify questions like:
- Is this depression, anxiety, something trauma-related, or a mix of all three?
- Are my mood shifts part of bipolar spectrum or another mood disorder?
- Do I meet criteria for ADHD, or are focus difficulties better explained by stress or trauma?
- Are symptoms related to personality structure, long-term coping patterns, or a specific diagnosis?
- What diagnoses best fit, and what diagnoses can we reasonably rule out?
- What does all of this mean for treatment planning, accommodations, or next steps?
What to expect from a diagnostic assessment
Step 1: Clinical interview
We start with an in-depth interview, exploring your history from early life through the present, key stressors, medical background, and current concerns.
Step 2: Standardized testing
You’ll complete formal assessment measures that look at mood, personality patterns, attention and executive functioning, or other domains depending on your referral question. Many tools include checks for consistency and effort, so results are as accurate as possible.
Step 3: Integration & diagnosis
Your provider reviews all data together—not just one score—to determine which diagnoses best fit and which can be ruled out. We look for patterns across tools, not single test results.
Step 4: Feedback & recommendations
You’ll receive feedback in clear language, space to ask questions, and tailored recommendations—such as therapy focus, medication considerations, school/work accommodations, or referrals.
Diagnostic assessments for mood & trauma-related concerns
We provide comprehensive evaluations for depression, anxiety, bipolar spectrum, trauma-related conditions, and complex presentations where multiple diagnoses may be interacting. Clinical interviews are combined with personality and symptom-focused measures that go beyond brief screeners.
Diagnostic assessments for ADHD & executive functioning
Our ADHD assessments look at attention, impulsivity, organization, and executive functioning over time, with collateral information when appropriate (such as parent or teacher forms for kids). We also look for other factors like anxiety, trauma, or burnout that can mimic ADHD symptoms.
Insurance, cost, and practical details
Insurance coverage for psychological testing can be complex. Some plans cover a set number of hours automatically, others require prior authorization, and some clients prefer private pay. Assessment fees also vary by type of evaluation (for example, mood-focused vs. ADHD-focused testing).
For current rates, examples of typical packages, and more details about insurance and out-of-pocket options, please visit our main psychological assessment page or contact our office.
Ready to get clearer answers?
If you’ve been wondering what’s really going on and how to move forward? Diagnostic assessment can be a powerful, compassionate next step.