Atlanta Pediatric Psychological Services and Autism Services
At Talk About Therapy, we specialize in a variety of psychological interventions for children and adolescents. We serve children and families in the Atlanta area, providing accessible pediatric psychology services near you. See below to learn more about different psychological challenges, how they can affect your child, and how we can help with tailored psychological interventions if you notice any red flags.
What is Autism?
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties in social interaction, communication, and by restricted or repetitive behaviors. It is a spectrum condition, meaning it affects individuals differently and to varying degrees.
What do our toddler evaluations look like?
Children aged 2 and under are evaluated by our psychologist. This evaluation includes:
- A detailed parent interview
- A developmental assessment
- A feedback session with parents to discuss the diagnosis, the child’s strengths and weaknesses, and recommendations
These appointments may last between 3-5 hours, and a comprehensive written report summarizing our findings will be provided after the evaluation.
What do evaluations look like for children above the age of 3?
Diagnostic evaluations for children aged 3 and older consist of two to three appointments:
Diagnostic Interview
The diagnostic interview is a one-hour session with parents during which the clinician gathers detailed information about your child’s development and current symptoms. Parents may be asked to complete rating scales and receive forms for the child’s teacher or other caregivers to fill out. This appointment allows the psychologist to determine what assessments are appropriate for your child in the testing appointment and understand your concerns further. It is important that your child is present for this appointment.
Testing Appointment
Following the diagnostic interview, many children are scheduled for a testing appointment, typically occurring several weeks later. This appointment includes assessments of:
- Cognitive abilities or developmental level
- Social interaction
- Communication
- Emotional functioning
- Behavior
- Adaptive skills
The testing appointment may last anywhere between 3 to 5 hours.
Following the testing appointment a follow-up feedback appointment is completed that day or a few days after. The feedback appointment is your opportunity to understand the findings and discuss them with your psychologist. A comprehensive written report summarizing the findings will be provided to you after the evaluation.
What are the costs and what about insurance?
Talk About Therapy recognizes that evaluations are a significant investment in a child’s future. Currently, we offer the following payment methods:
NOTE: If we are not in-network with your insurance, we can provide a superbill for you to submit for out-of-network coverage. Most insurance plans provide some out-of-network coverage and a part or most of the cost may be reimbursable to you. Be sure to check with your insurance to find out what out-of-network benefits may be available to you.
Self-pay:
Our self-pay rate for the Diagnostic Interview is $275. The Diagnostic Interview serves as the initial appointment and can help you understand your child’s development as well as provide you guidance on whether a further full Evaluation should be completed.
The full Evaluation consists of the two additional appointments discussed above and can range between $1700-$2,300 depending on the child’s age. This includes testing and report writing as well as the final feedback appointment.
Do you offer other therapies at your office?
We do! We offer Speech, Occupational, and Physical therapy between both of our locations. We have two convenient locations. One in the Smyrna/Vinings area and the other in the North Druid Hills/Brookhaven area.
