Psychological Evaluations & Testing in Chicago
A psychological evaluation is more than just a test—it’s a way to understand how your mind works and what you need to thrive. At J. Shoshana & Associates in Chicago, our psychological testing combines clinical expertise with compassion. We use structured interviews, evidence-based tools, and careful observation to identify challenges and uncover strengths.
Whether you’re a parent seeking answers for a child struggling in school, an adult experiencing focus or mood difficulties, or someone navigating stress, trauma, or memory changes, a psychological evaluation provides clarity. With the right insights, you can move forward with confidence and a clear plan of care.
What Is a Psychological Evaluation?
A psychological evaluation—also called a psychological assessment or mental health evaluation—is a structured process used to understand cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and social functioning. Evaluations may include:
- Clinical interviews to discuss your history, current concerns, and goals
- Standardized psychological testing to measure attention, memory, intelligence, and mood
- Questionnaires completed by you and, when appropriate, teachers, parents, or spouses
- Behavioral assessments and observations during sessions
Psychological evaluations help answer important questions such as:
- Does my child have ADHD, a learning disorder, or both?
- Are my difficulties related to anxiety, depression, trauma, or another condition?
- What academic, workplace, or therapeutic supports will help me succeed?
These evaluations are never one-size-fits-all. They are tailored to your needs and interpreted by a licensed clinician who integrates results into a meaningful psychological report and personalized treatment plan.
Who Can Benefit from a Psychological Evaluation?
Psychological assessments can provide valuable insight for:
Children & Teens
School struggles, behavior issues, ADHD, learning differences, and eligibility for school accommodations (IEPs, 504 Plans).
Adults
Workplace stress, mood concerns, difficulty concentrating, memory changes, or seeking clarity before starting therapy or medication.
Families & Providers
When clear diagnostic information is needed to guide treatment or academic support.
The Evaluation Process
Our approach is structured yet compassionate, designed to give you clarity and next steps:
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- Initial Consultation – We listen to your story, concerns, and history.
- Assessment Sessions – Psychological tests and questionnaires may assess IQ, executive functioning, emotional regulation, personality, and memory.
- Data Integration & Psychological Report – Results are analyzed in the context of your life and presented in a clear, detailed report.
- Feedback Session – You’ll meet with Dr. Shoshana to review results, diagnoses (if applicable), and personalized recommendations.
Our reports are designed to be practical—helping families request school accommodations, guiding therapists and physicians, or giving adults the clarity they need to move forward.
Evaluations are conducted and interpreted by Dr. Joseph Shoshana, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, at the practice’s West Loop office at 1021 W Adams St., Suite 201, Chicago, IL 60607. Children, teens and adults.
Common Reasons for Psychological Testing
Patients seek psychological testing for many reasons, including:
- ADHD and attention difficulties
- Learning disabilities and academic challenges
- Anxiety and depression
- Trauma and PTSD
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Behavioral and emotional struggles
- Personality and coping style evaluations
- Pre-employment or forensic assessments
Every evaluation leads to a clear psychological diagnosis (if appropriate) and practical next steps.
Why Choose J. Shoshana & Associates?
Extensive experience evaluating children, teens, and adults
Compassionate, individualized approach—no cookie-cutter reports
Trusted by schools, families, and healthcare providers across the region
Psychological reports that are clear, actionable, and research-based
Neuropsychological Evaluation in Chicago
A neuropsychological evaluation looks specifically at how cognitive systems are performing — attention, memory, processing speed, language, visual–spatial skill and executive function — and at how those show up in daily life, at school or at work.
It differs from a general psychological evaluation in emphasis rather than in kind. A psychological evaluation asks what is happening emotionally and behaviourally. A neuropsychological evaluation asks how those cognitive systems are performing and what the pattern across them points to. Many evaluations draw on both.
Dr. Shoshana is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and performs neuropsychological evaluations for children, teens and adults. People commonly ask for one when:
- Attention and focus are a concern, and ADHD is one possibility among several
- A learning difference has been suspected for years but never formally identified
- An adult has noticed changes in memory, word-finding or organisation
- Cognitive complaints persist after a concussion or a medical event
- A school or an employer needs documentation to put accommodations in place
- A second opinion is wanted on an evaluation completed elsewhere
An evaluation does not always end in a diagnosis, and it is not meant to. Sometimes the useful finding is that the pattern does not fit the label someone arrived with, and that a different explanation accounts for the difficulty better.
ADHD Testing for Children, Teens and Adults
ADHD is one of the most common reasons people come to us for testing, and one of the most commonly assumed. Attention difficulty is a symptom, not a diagnosis: anxiety, depression, disrupted sleep, a specific learning disorder and a language processing difficulty can all look like inattention from the outside, and more than one can be present at once.
A proper ADHD evaluation is built to tell those apart. It typically includes a clinical interview covering developmental and school history, standardised measures of attention and executive function, cognitive and academic testing where a learning difference is in question, and rating scales completed by more than one person who knows the individual well — a parent and a teacher for a child, a partner or close colleague for an adult.
For school-age children the written report is what schools work from when considering an IEP or a 504 Plan. For adults it is what an employer or a university disability office will ask for. We write reports with that use in mind: specific findings, and recommendations concrete enough to act on.
Psychoeducational Evaluation and School Accommodations
A psychoeducational evaluation focuses on learning: how a student takes in, holds and produces information, and where the breakdown is happening. It is the evaluation most often requested when a child is bright in conversation but struggling on paper, when reading has never come easily, or when a school has asked for documentation before putting supports in place.
Reports are written to be usable by the people who will act on them — the school team, the tutor, the paediatrician, the family. We are glad to explain findings directly to a school if that helps, with your written consent.
FAQs about Psychological Evaluations
A psychological evaluation usually takes 4 to 8 hours spread across multiple sessions. This includes an initial consultation, testing, scoring, and a feedback session. The exact length depends on the type of testing—ADHD, learning disabilities, or emotional assessments may require different amounts of time. Our goal is to be thorough while making the process comfortable and manageable.
Yes. We provide comprehensive ADHD testing and learning disability evaluations for children, teens, and adults. These assessments may include cognitive testing, attention and focus measures, and academic achievement tests. Results are combined into a detailed psychological report that can support school accommodations (IEPs, 504 Plans) or workplace adjustments.
Coverage for psychological testing and mental health evaluations varies by insurance plan. Some policies cover specific assessments, while others classify them as out-of-network. Our team will review your benefits with you and provide the documentation you need to submit for reimbursement. Even if not fully covered, many families find the insight and clarity from a psychological evaluation invaluable.
After testing is complete, you’ll meet with Dr. Shoshana for a feedback session. Together, we’ll review your results, any diagnoses, and personalized recommendations for therapy, school accommodations, or medical care. You’ll also receive a written psychological report that you can share with teachers, providers, or employers to ensure the right support is in place.
Get the clarity you deserve. Contact J. Shoshana & Associates today to schedule your psychological evaluation and take the first step toward answers and healing.