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Complete Family ServicesDr. Corinne Hickson Barez, PhD
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Our primary focus

Psychoeducational evaluations that actually answer the question.

When something isn't adding up at school, at home, or with friends, a comprehensive psychoeducational evaluation cuts through the guesswork. Our practice also provides neuropsychological and neuropsych-style evaluations when deeper assessment of brain-based functions is needed. You leave with a clear picture: what's going on, why it's happening, and exactly what to do about it.

Begin intakeView our process
An open notebook and pen on a clinician's desk, suggesting careful evaluation work in progress
Signs to watch for

Is an evaluation right for your child?

Parents often come to us with a specific concern, but just as often, they come with a feeling. Something isn't adding up. Their child is bright, capable, and trying hard. The results just don't match the effort. Teachers say “they're fine,” but home tells a different story. The frustration builds, and the question becomes: is there something we're missing?

A psychoeducational evaluation is designed to answer that question. It looks beneath the surface, beyond grades and behavior charts, to understand how your child thinks, learns, processes information, and experiences the world emotionally. The goal is clarity: a clear explanation of what's happening, why, and what will actually help. We provide evaluations for children as young as 2.5 years old through adolescence and into adulthood.

Consider an evaluation if you're seeing any of the following patterns:

  • Academic struggles that don't match your child's intelligence. They're clearly capable, but school performance doesn't reflect it
  • Attention, focus, or organizational difficulties that persist despite structure at home and accommodations at school
  • Social difficulties: trouble reading social cues, maintaining friendships, or navigating group dynamics
  • Emotional regulation challenges like meltdowns, anxiety, withdrawal, or mood swings that seem out of proportion to the situation
  • Previous testing that didn't quite fit. Results felt incomplete, recommendations didn't help, or a diagnosis doesn't fully explain what you're seeing

If any of these resonate, an evaluation can provide the answers you've been looking for and a clear roadmap for what comes next.

What we measure

The 10 content areas we assess.

Every evaluation is tailored to your child's referral question, but our assessments draw from ten core domains. Together, these areas give us a complete picture of how your child thinks, learns, and experiences the world.

Cognitive ability

How your child reasons, solves problems, and thinks abstractly. This includes verbal comprehension, perceptual reasoning, working memory, and processing speed, which are the building blocks of learning.

Academic achievement

Current skill levels in reading, writing, and mathematics compared to grade-level expectations. We assess decoding, fluency, comprehension, written expression, and mathematical reasoning.

Visual and auditory processing

How efficiently your child takes in and makes sense of visual and auditory information. Weaknesses here often explain why a bright child struggles with reading, note-taking, or following verbal instructions.

Fine and gross motor skills

Hand-eye coordination, handwriting fluency, and physical coordination. Motor difficulties can affect everything from written output to self-confidence in PE and on the playground.

Language development

Receptive and expressive language abilities, including how well your child understands language and communicates their thoughts. Language underpins nearly every academic and social task.

Attention

Sustained, selective, and divided attention across different contexts. We use multiple measures to understand whether attention difficulties are primary (such as ADHD) or secondary to another factor like anxiety or a learning disability.

Memory

Short-term, long-term, and working memory across verbal and visual modalities. Memory patterns often reveal why a child can understand material in the moment but struggle to retain or retrieve it later.

Sensory integration

How your child processes sensory input from the environment: sound, touch, movement, and visual stimulation. Sensory sensitivities can significantly affect attention, behavior, and emotional regulation.

Personality

Your child's characteristic ways of thinking, feeling, and relating to others. Understanding personality patterns helps us make recommendations that fit who your child actually is, not just what their scores say.

Behavioral and emotional functioning

Anxiety, depression, self-esteem, social functioning, and behavioral concerns as reported by the child, parents, and teachers. This domain ensures we understand the emotional context surrounding any learning or attention difficulties.

Our process

What the process looks like.

From first phone call to school meeting, here's what families can expect. The entire process typically spans two to four weeks.

01

Parent intake meeting

We begin with a 60–90 minute meeting with parents (no child present) to understand your concerns, review developmental and educational history, discuss previous testing, and define the referral questions that will guide the evaluation. This meeting can be conducted in person or via telehealth.

02

Testing sessions

Your child completes 6–12 hours of standardized testing, typically spread across two to four sessions. Sessions are scheduled at times when your child is rested and alert. We take breaks as needed and keep the atmosphere warm and encouraging — most kids actually enjoy the process.

03

Scoring and interpretation

Dr. Hickson Barez spends 8–12 hours scoring all measures, analyzing patterns across tests, integrating parent and teacher data, and formulating diagnostic impressions. This behind-the-scenes work is where thirty years of clinical experience matters most.

04

Written report

You receive a comprehensive report, typically 65 to 75 single-spaced pages, that includes background history, behavioral observations during testing, test-by-test results in plain language, an integrated summary, diagnostic impressions, and detailed recommendations for home, school, and treatment.

05

Feedback session with parents

We meet for 60–90 minutes to walk through the findings together. This is a conversation, not a data dump. We explain what we found, what it means for your child's daily life, and how to use the recommendations effectively. Parents leave with clarity and a plan.

06

School consultation meeting

Optional but highly recommended. Dr. Hickson Barez attends your child's school meeting (IEP, 504, or Student Study Team) to present findings, answer the team's questions, and advocate for appropriate accommodations and services. Having the evaluator in the room makes a measurable difference.

The deliverable

What you receive.

The heart of every evaluation is the written report. This isn't a form letter or a template filled with generic recommendations. Each report is individually authored by Dr. Hickson Barez, with 15 to 25 hours of scoring and clinical interpretation behind every one. The result is a comprehensive document, typically 65 to 75 single-spaced pages, that reflects the specific patterns, strengths, and challenges your child presents. Here is what every evaluation includes:

  • A comprehensive written report (65–75 single-spaced pages) covering all areas assessed, written in language that parents and educators can both understand
  • Diagnostic clarity: a clear determination of whether your child meets criteria for ADHD, a learning disability, autism spectrum disorder, or other clinical diagnoses
  • Specific recommendations for school accommodations, including what to request, how to frame it, and which accommodations are most likely to help your child
  • Treatment recommendations covering whether therapy, tutoring, occupational therapy, speech-language services, or other interventions are warranted
  • IEP and 504 guidance, including which classification applies, what services to request, and how to navigate the school's process effectively
  • Testing is provided with a superbill for insurance reimbursement. Many families with PPO plans receive significant reimbursement for psychological testing, though coverage varies by plan
For schools

IEP and 504 accommodations.

One of the most common reasons families seek a private evaluation is to support a request for school accommodations. Whether your child needs a 504 Plan, an Individualized Education Program (IEP), or modifications to an existing plan, our evaluation provides the documentation schools require along with the specificity that makes accommodation requests successful.

Every report includes a dedicated recommendations section written specifically for the school team. We don't simply say “extended time.” We explain which tasks need extended time, how much, and why. We specify whether your child qualifies under IDEA or Section 504, recommend appropriate classification categories, and outline the services and supports that match the evaluation findings. When Dr. Hickson Barez attends the school meeting, she presents findings in a way that helps the team understand your child and act on the recommendations.

Parents also have the right to request an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) if they disagree with the school district's assessment. Our evaluations can serve as that independent evaluation, providing a more comprehensive picture than most school-based assessments are able to offer.

Not just for children

Adult evaluations.

Many adults arrive at our practice after years of wondering why things have always felt harder than they should. They struggled in school and were told they weren't trying hard enough. They've developed sophisticated workarounds for attention and organizational challenges. They've been treated for anxiety or depression, but something still doesn't quite fit.

We evaluate adults for ADHD, learning disabilities, and cognitive concerns using the same thorough, individualized approach we bring to every evaluation. For adults, the assessment often brings both relief and clarity. It provides a framework for understanding lifelong patterns and concrete strategies for work, school, and daily life. College students seeking accommodations, professionals navigating workplace challenges, and adults pursuing a diagnosis they suspect was missed in childhood are all welcome here.

Frequently asked

Questions parents ask about evaluations.

How long does a psychoeducational evaluation take?+
The full process typically spans two to four weeks from start to finish. Testing itself involves 6–12 hours of direct assessment, spread across two to four sessions so your child stays fresh and performs at their best. After testing, Dr. Hickson Barez spends an additional 8–12 hours scoring, interpreting results, and writing the report. A parent feedback session follows within one to two weeks of completing testing. We never rush this process. Thorough interpretation is what separates a useful evaluation from a stack of numbers.
What's the difference between a psychoeducational and neuropsychological evaluation?+
Both are comprehensive, but they emphasize different areas. A psychoeducational evaluation focuses on how learning differences, attention, and emotional factors affect academic performance. It answers the question "why is my child struggling in school?" A neuropsychological evaluation dives deeper into brain-based functions like memory systems, processing speed, and executive functioning. In practice, our evaluations often include neuropsych-style measures when clinically indicated, giving you the depth of a neuropsychological evaluation within a psychoeducational framework. Dr. Hickson Barez will recommend the right scope after the intake meeting.
Will insurance cover a psychoeducational evaluation?+
Most insurance plans do not cover psychoeducational evaluations, as they are typically classified as educational rather than medical. We are an out-of-network provider and collect payment at the time of service. However, we provide a detailed superbill that you can submit to your insurance company for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Many families receive partial reimbursement depending on their plan. We recommend calling your insurer before starting and asking about out-of-network benefits for psychological testing (CPT codes 96130–96139).
What if my child has already been tested?+
Previous testing can be valuable context, and we always review prior reports as part of the intake process. However, there are good reasons to retest: the earlier evaluation may not have assessed all relevant areas, your child may have changed significantly since the last assessment, or the results may not have fully explained what you're seeing at home and school. We will never recommend retesting unless it's clinically warranted. If a previous evaluation was thorough and recent, we'll tell you, and we'll help you use the existing results more effectively.
At what age can children be evaluated?+
We can evaluate children as young as 2.5 years old, depending on the referral question. At younger ages, testing looks different. Sessions are shorter, measures are more play-based, and we rely more heavily on parent and teacher observations. For children under six, evaluations tend to focus on developmental readiness, early learning skills, and social-emotional functioning. For school-age children and teens, we can assess the full range of cognitive, academic, attention, and emotional factors. We also evaluate adults of all ages.
Will the evaluation result in a diagnosis?+
When the data support it, yes. A psychoeducational evaluation can identify conditions such as specific learning disabilities, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, anxiety disorders, and other clinical diagnoses. But a diagnosis is never the sole purpose. Equally important are the patterns the evaluation reveals (how your child thinks, learns, and processes the world) and the specific, actionable recommendations that follow. Some evaluations confirm a diagnosis. Others rule one out and redirect the conversation. Both outcomes are valuable.
How are the evaluation recommendations used by schools?+
Our reports are written with schools in mind. Each report includes specific, evidence-based recommendations for classroom accommodations, instructional strategies, and support services. These recommendations can be used to request a 504 Plan, support an IEP (Individualized Education Program), or inform the school's Student Study Team. Many families bring the report to a school meeting, and Dr. Hickson Barez offers an optional school consultation where she attends the meeting with you to present findings and advocate for appropriate services.
How long is the written report?+
Our comprehensive reports are typically 65 to 75 single-spaced pages, significantly more thorough than what most practices produce. Behind each report is 15 to 25 hours of scoring and clinical interpretation. The report includes background history, behavioral observations, test-by-test results with plain-language explanations, an integrated summary, diagnostic impressions, and a detailed recommendations section. We write reports so that parents, teachers, and other professionals can all understand them. No jargon without explanation. The recommendations section alone is typically several pages, because specificity is what makes a report useful in the real world.
Can the evaluation be done via telehealth?+
The parent intake meeting and feedback session can absolutely be conducted via telehealth. However, the testing sessions themselves must be done in person at our Torrance office. Standardized psychological tests require controlled conditions (specific materials, timed administration, and direct behavioral observation) that cannot be replicated remotely. This is an industry-wide standard, not a practice preference. We make every effort to schedule testing sessions at convenient times and keep the number of office visits manageable.
What if we disagree with the school's existing evaluation?+
You have the legal right to obtain an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) if you disagree with your school district's assessment. A private psychoeducational evaluation from our practice can serve as that independent evaluation. Our assessments are typically more comprehensive than school-based testing, covering areas that school psychologists may not assess, including emotional functioning, personality, sensory integration, and fine motor skills. If you believe the school's evaluation missed something, we can help clarify the full picture and provide documentation to support your advocacy.

Complete Family Services was able to keep my family communicating during one of the most difficult chapters of our lives. Dr. Hickson Barez provided clarity when everything felt overwhelming.

Client · Rancho Palos Verdes
Dr. Corinne Hickson Barez, PhD

Reviewed by

Dr. Corinne Hickson Barez, PhD

Licensed Clinical Psychologist (PSY17257) with 30+ years of experience. Founder of Complete Family Services, Inc. in Torrance, California. More than 20 years of experience as a court-appointed 730 Child Custody Evaluator. Author of the forthcoming Life's Lessonschildren's book series. Co-author of a chapter in The Handbook of Juvenile Forensic Psychology.

Read full bio →
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Ready to begin? We'd be honored to help.

Most families start with a phone consultation. We'll listen, answer questions, and recommend the right next step, whether that's an evaluation, therapy, or another service entirely.

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