Psychological testing is often needed in order to obtain more information about individuals' cognitive abilities, personality dynamics, and symptom presentation. Neuropsychological testing may be used to screen for cognitive impairment, such as brain injury, learning or memory problems, dementia, or the aftereffects of toxic substances. Dr. Beaty performs ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) assessment with ages 5 through adulthood. Behavior rating scales, a detailed history, and a computerized test of attention are used to diagnose ADHD and to monitor the effectiveness of treatment. Self Report Personality and Projective Personality Tests may be used to identify emotional and mood disorders or to identify more chronic problems such as personality disorders. Other tests may be used for guiding marital therapy or for career counseling. Dr. Beaty is experienced in and able to provide such assessment. In children and adolescents, who may be unable or unwilling to articulate problems and goals, psychological testing may be very revealing of these problems and personality dynamics. A wide range of self report measures and more indirect measures may be used.
Child Custody Evaluations are a specialty of Dr. Beaty in providing an objective, expert assessment of children's needs and parenting qualities that would be in the best interest of the child. Such evaluations need to be ordered by the court so that there is no question as to working for one party or the other. Child Custody Evaluations are more in depth than Social Studies ordered by the court. Child Custody Evaluations involve extensive interviews with each parent, psychological tests for the parents, interviews and testing with the children, observations of parent child interactions, and interviews with family, neighbors, friends, and involved professionals. The end result will be a report to the court for custody arrangements, visitation schedules, and any special circumstances pertaining to the best interest of the children. Other related evaluations may be more limited to specific requests, such as Parental Fitness Evaluations, which are requested to establish whether a particular parent can safely have visitation while unsupervised or to what level of supervision or time spent with that parent is in the best interest of the child. At other times, Dr. Beaty may provide only psychological testing which would be considered along with a separate Social Study. Dr. Beaty is also often asked to provide evaluations related to criminal and juvenile offenses. In such cases, interviews and testing are used to identify possible mitigating factors which could have influenced the offense and would be considered in the punishment and sentencing phases of the court. Such factors could be mental incapacity, mood disorders, substance abuse, and personality disorders.
Several other types of evaluations are provided by Dr. Beaty. He provides Social Security Disability Evaluations for individuals who may be going to an Administrative Judicial Hearing of the Social Security Administration. Dr. Beaty has also provided assessments for military reenlistment or disability from the military. He provides screening assessments for police candidates and other career assessments. Medical procedures often require a psychological assessment, such as prior to bariatric surgery, organ donations, or for ovum donors or surrogates in fertility procedures. Dr. Beaty has provided such assessments over the years.
Fees and financial considerations will be in the paperwork. If you have Insurance, Dr. Beaty has negotiated rates with several insurance plans. In this case, you are only responsible for deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. The following Plans have contracts with Dr. Beaty as a preferred provider:
AETNA (all products)
Anthem Blue Cross
Blue Cross/ Blue Shield – PPO plans
Cigna all plans
CHAMPUS/Tricare plans
Magellan Behavioral Health
Medicare Part B and Supplements
Value Options
Other insurance may be accepted on a fee for service basis. Rates for forensic work is not reimbursed by insurance and must be paid in full at the first appointment.
