Frequently Asked Questions
What does neuroaffirming or neurodiversity-affirming mean?
Neuroaffirming or neurodiversity-affirming is an approach that simply means that instead of assessing a person through the lens of having a deficit or disorder, a provider takes a therapeutic approach focused on identifying strengths and differences (vulnerabilities). For example, if someone were diagnosed with autism, neuroaffirming care dictates that you wouldn't make recommendations that encourage a person to tolerate different sounds and textures, or socialize more like non-autistic people. Instead, you would acknowledge and find ways to support their different social or sensory needs. In a nutshell, it's about recognizing and accepting that neurodivergent people (e.g., ADHD, autism, learning differences, anxiety) experience the world differently, while also providing tools, supports, and recommendations to help them navigate and adapt to their environment more effectively.
How does a neuropsychiatric assessment differ from a psychiatric, psychological, or neuropsychological assessment?
Similar to a psychological or neuropsychological evaluation conducted by a psychologist, Erin gathers comprehensive information on a person's presenting concerns, personal and family history, and functional status. She indirectly evaluates the brain’s health and functional integrity by assessing areas such as cognition, executive functions, memory, language and communication, sensorimotor functions, emotions, behaviors, social skills, and personality. Additionally, Erin conducts qualitative assessments for common behavioral health conditions, including anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder.
In a manner similar to a psychiatric assessment, Erin rigorously reviews each client’s medical history to identify any conditions that might mimic behavioral health symptoms. She can order laboratory tests to determine whether physical conditions, such as thyroid issues or vitamin deficiencies, may be contributing to a person’s presenting concerns. Erin also conducts a comprehensive review of past and present medications to understand a person’s response history, identify relevant side effects, and ensure that current prescriptions align with the client's unique needs. When appropriate or requested by the client, she can order pharmacogenetic testing, which is particularly valuable for individuals with a history of poor responses to multiple medications.
By integrating elements of psychiatric, psychological, and neuropsychological assessments into a neuropsychiatric evaluation, Erin offers a streamlined approach that saves clients time, expenses, and energy by providing a comprehensive understanding of all relevant individual factors in one integrated assessment.
What assessment tools and measures are used in your practice?
This practice utilizes a non-prescriptive, comprehensive approach to assessing clients. Some of the assessments that might be used, include:
Childhood Autism Rating Scale - Second Edition (CARS-2)
Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q)
Brown Executive Function/Attention Scales (Brown EF/A Scales)
Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile
Sensory Profile-2 (SP-2)
Social Responsiveness Scale - Second Edition (SRS-2)
The Comprehensive Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness - 3rd Edition
Toronto Alexithymia Scale - 20 (TAS-20)
Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults - 5th Edition (DIVA-5)
Young Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Young People - 5th Edition (Young DIVA-5)
Conners - 4th Edition (Conners 4)
Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scales - 2nd Edition (CAARS-2)
Clinical Assessment of Attention Deficit (CAT-A)
Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC-3)
Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI)
Millon Inventories
Delis-Rating of Executive Functions (D-REF)
Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS)
California Verbal Learning Test - Third Edition (CVLT-3)
Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-2)
Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ'07)
Monteiro Interview Guidelines for Diagnosing the Autism Spectrum - Second Edition (MIGDAS-2)
Clinical Assessment of Pragmatics (CAPs)
Koppitz-II
NEPSY-II
TAPS-4
Wechsler Individual Achievement Test-Fourth Edition (WIAT-4)
Kaufmen Test of Education Achievement - 3rd Edition (KTEA-3)
Adult Repetitive Behaviors Questionnaire - 2 (RBQ - 2A)
Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales - 3rd Edition (Vineland-3)
Reynolds Adaptable Intelligence Test (RAIT)
Delis-Rating of Executive Functions (D-REF)
Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, Second Edition (BRIEF-2)
Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, Adult Version (BRIEF-A)
Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Fifth Edition (WISC-V)
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Fifth Edition (WAIS-V)
Wechsler Memory Scale - Fourth Edition (WMS-IV)
Why choose the package that includes a report?
Opting for the neuropsychiatric or psychoeducational assessment package with a report offers several significant benefits for both adults and adolescents:
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Detailed Documentation: The report provides a thorough documentation of your assessment results, including strengths and differences. This can be invaluable for understanding your neurodivergent profile and creating tailored strategies for success.
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Educational Accommodations: For students, having a formal report can be crucial for securing accommodations in educational settings. As students transition to high school or prepare for college, the academic demands increase, and having documented support can make a significant difference.
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College Board Requirements: Currently, the College Board requires a documented, longitudinal history of a diagnosis via a neuroeducational report to grant accommodations for disabilities on the SATs/ACTs. (Please see the college board website for further information.) This requirement, which arose after the 2019 college admissions scandal, underscores the importance of having a detailed report to support accommodation requests.
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Workplace Accommodations: For adults, a comprehensive report can facilitate discussions with employers about necessary workplace accommodations, ensuring you have the support needed to perform your best.
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Future Planning: Even if accommodations are not immediately needed, having a detailed report can be beneficial for future planning. It allows for proactive management of potential challenges and ensures you are prepared should the need for accommodations arise later.
While not necessary, choosing the package with a report provides a robust foundation for understanding and supporting your neurodivergent journey, both now and in the future.
Where does this practice provide services?
Currently, in-person visits are limited to testing, available at two locations: 205 Main Street, 1st Floor, Westport, CT, and 220 Fifth Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, NY. Unless otherwise specified, all other services are conducted remotely via Zoom for Healthcare.
Where are you licensed to provide services?
This practice is licensed to provide services to clients located in New York and Connecticut.
Will insurance cover my visit?
Possibly. Insurance companies classify this practice as out-of-network, which means that we do not contract with any insurance companies and all clients are solely responsible for our fees at the time of service.
There are several advantages to this model:
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It often takes weeks and sometimes, months, to get an appointment with an in-network provider, whereas we can usually see new clients in less than a week to two weeks.
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Some insurance carriers require prior approval before treatment can begin.
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As a self-pay/out-of-network practice, Erin limits the number of clients on her caseload, which means that she has more time to focus on you.
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In-network providers must adhere to the rules and regulations of the insurance companies with whom they are contracted. Unfortunately, this means that your insurance carrier has significant influence over the care that you receive from an in-network provider. As a private pay/out-of-network practice, Erin works for you, not your insurance company.
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Insurance companies often limit a person's number of annual behavioral health visits.
However, your insurance company may provide full or partial reimbursement for out-of-network behavioral health services when you submit a "superbill," or a detailed invoice outlining the services rendered.
Finally, if you are uninsured or self-pay, you have the right to request a Good Faith Estimate of expected charges prior to receiving services.
What are your fees?
Please contact our office directly for current fees.
Do you offer a sliding scale?
This practice does not offer a sliding scale, but we occasionally have reduced fee spots for clients who are seeking neuropsychiatric and educational assessment services and qualify based on financial need. Please contact us directly for more information.
How do I obtain a superbill?
Medication management clients can obtain their superbills by going to the Invoices tab of the IntakeQ client portal. Neuropsychiatric and educational assessment clients will receive their superbills via the IntakeQ client portal within one month of completing the feedback session.
How do I get started?
To get started, please fill out our contact form and someone will be in touch within 24-48 business hours. We look forward to hearing from you!