Hillsborough
Psychological Services

Getting started

Here's the whole path, start to finish

No mystery, no runaround. Most people find the hardest step is the first one.

1

Reach out

Send a message through the form below, email, or call. Tell me in a sentence or two what's going on and what you're hoping to understand. I read and reply to each message myself, usually within a couple of business days. No health details needed yet — just enough to start the conversation.

2

We talk, then intake

A brief phone conversation first, to make sure I'm the right fit — and I'll say so honestly if I'm not. Then a full intake session: your history, your concerns, and most importantly, the question we're actually trying to answer. Reviewing existing records is part of this, always, at no separate charge.

3

Testing

One or more testing sessions, depending on the question — standardized measures, chosen for you, administered by me personally. For kids, I'll tell you exactly how to explain it to them (short version: it's more interesting than school, and there are breaks).

4

Integration

Then I disappear into the work — scoring, interpreting, connecting the findings to your actual life. This is the invisible part of a good evaluation, and it's where the answer takes shape.

5

Feedback and report

We meet, and I walk you through everything in plain language — what I found, what it means, what to do next. A feedback session is part of every evaluation; it's not an extra. You leave with a complete report written to be used, not filed.

How long does all this take? It depends on the question, and I won't pretend otherwise — but at intake I'll give you a realistic timeline for your specific evaluation, and I'll keep my word on it.

Fees & insurance, briefly

No surprises, no quote-on-request games

I'm credentialing with MedCost, BCBS-NC, Medicaid, and Tricare; until those are effective, evaluations are private pay. For plans I'm out-of-network with — Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare/Optum, and others — you'll get a complete, insurance-ready superbill to submit to your insurer, and many PPO plans reimburse a substantial portion after your deductible. Every fee is published plainly on the Fees & Insurance page, and you'll receive a Good Faith Estimate before we begin.

Questions people ask

The FAQ

Do I need a referral?

No. Many families come through a pediatrician or therapist, but you can reach out directly.

What ages do you see?

Seven and up — children, teens, and adults.

How is this different from the school's evaluation?

A school evaluation answers one question: does this student qualify for services under education law. A clinical evaluation answers yours: what's actually going on, diagnostically and practically, across the whole of life. They can disagree — a child can be denied eligibility and still have a very real, diagnosable learning disorder. If you've had a school evaluation, bring it; it's useful data, and I'll build on it rather than repeat it.

Will insurance cover the evaluation?

It depends on your plan and on the question — insurance covers medically necessary evaluation, and doesn't cover educational services like achievement testing for its own sake. I'll help you understand which side of that line your situation falls on before anything begins, and the Fees page explains how in-network and out-of-network coverage work here.

Do you prescribe medication?

No — psychologists in North Carolina don't prescribe. But if medication is part of your path, a good evaluation is exactly what your prescriber wants to see, and with your permission I coordinate with them directly.

Can any of this happen by telehealth?

Intake and feedback often can, and therapy can. Standardized testing happens in person — the measures require it.

What should I tell my child?

The truth, kept simple: you're going to spend some time with someone whose job is figuring out how kids learn and think, so school can get easier. No needles, no grades, and breaks whenever they're needed.

Reach out

Start the conversation

Use the form to start — name, contact, and a sentence about what you're looking for. Once we connect, everything moves to a secure channel.

Please don't include health details or anything sensitive — a general note is all that's needed, and email isn't a secure channel.

I read and reply to each message myself.

Thank you — your message is on its way. You'll hear back soon.