Clinical Evaluations and Assessments
In addition to psychotherapy, I provide clinical evaluations and assessments across a range of legal, correctional, regulatory, and occupational contexts. This is specialized work that most private practice therapists do not offer, and it reflects decades of direct experience at the intersection of clinical practice, the legal system, and regulatory frameworks.
A clinical evaluation is distinct from therapy. Rather than an ongoing treatment relationship, an evaluation is a structured, time-limited process that includes a clinical interview, review of records and collateral documentation, psychometric testing and scoring, diagnostic formulation, and a formal written report delivered to you and, where applicable, to the party that requested the evaluation.
Evaluations are appointment-based and do not constitute or initiate an ongoing therapeutic relationship. However, should you wish to establish a therapeutic relationship following the assessment, you will not be charged for a separate or additional assessment, as the assessment is allowed to replace the intake and assessment required to establish therapy.
All evaluations are conducted via secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth, consistent with current evidence-based practice standards.
Who I Conduct Evaluations For
Court-Ordered and Justice-Involved Evaluations
I have decades of experience working with justice-involved clients and extensive expertise in court-ordered and corrections-referred assessments. These include evaluations required by circuit courts, municipal courts, and other judicial bodies, as well as probation and parole. Evaluations may address substance use, mental health, dual diagnosis, trauma, anger, or grief, and will result in a formal written report submitted to the referring entity, where appropriate, and the client.
Mental Health and Substance Use Evaluations
For individuals seeking or requiring a comprehensive clinical evaluation of mental health symptoms, substance use, or co-occurring disorders. Often, these are assessments completed for clients who are involved in the court process or who are referred by their attorney. Others are self-referred or referred by a treatment provider, a doctor, an employer, or another entity.
Employer and Occupational Referral Evaluations
For individuals referred by employers, occupational health programs, or employee assistance programs requiring an independent clinical evaluation as a condition of employment, return to duty, or fitness-for-duty determination. You do not need to send me a referral; you may contact me directly and provide proof of the assessment’s completion to your employer.
Self-Referred Independent Evaluations
For individuals seeking a thorough, professionally written clinical evaluation for personal, legal, or documentation purposes without a third-party referral.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Special Issuance
For airmen requiring a clinical evaluation as part of the FAA medical certification or Special Issuance Authorization process. See the dedicated FAA section below.
Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Documentation
For individuals requiring a proper clinical ESA evaluation and letter meeting Fair Housing Act and HUD standards. See the dedicated ESA section below.
Please note: I am not trained in and do not conduct domestic violence assessments or threat assessments.
Scope of Practice and Assessment Limitations
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC), and Independent Clinical Supervisor (ICS), licensed by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS).
I am not a licensed psychologist. There are specific categories of psychological testing that are restricted by law and professional standards to licensed psychologists, and I do not administer those instruments.
Level A instruments — Standardized instruments that require no formal training beyond basic test administration. I am qualified to administer these.
Level B instruments — Instruments requiring formal training, graduate-level coursework, and/or specific certification. I am qualified to administer these based on my training, credentials, and experience.
Level C instruments — Instruments restricted to licensed psychologists or those with a doctoral-level credential in psychology. I do not administer Level C instruments and this evaluation will not include them.
Neuropsychological testing, full psychological batteries, and other assessments restricted to licensed psychologists by scope of practice are outside the scope of my assessment and evaluation practices.
If the nature of your referral requires Level C testing or psychological testing beyond my scope of practice, I will inform you and the referring entity and, where appropriate, provide a referral to a licensed psychologist.
The Assessment Process
Each evaluation follows a structured clinical process tailored to the purpose of the referral.
The process typically includes:
Pre-appointment Preparation
This is a review of referral documents, records, and collateral materials submitted prior to the appointment. For more complex referrals, including FAA evaluations, this phase may be extensive.
Clinical Interview
The interview is conducted via a secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform. It is generally a single session of 60 to 120 minutes, but may consist of multiple sessions, depending on the complexity of the case and the nature of the referral question.
Psychometric Testing and Scoring
I use standardized, evidence-based instruments appropriate to the referral question and consistent with my scope of practice.
Diagnostic Formulation
I formulate diagnoses consistent with DSM-5-TR criteria, based on a review of records, interviews, psychometric findings, and the overall clinical data collected.
Report Preparation
I prepare a formal written report that documents findings, diagnostic impressions, and recommendations, and I deliver it to the client and the requesting entity within the agreed-upon timeframe.
Coordination
Where appropriate, I coordinate with courts, probation agents, the FAA, employers, or other requesting entities.
Assessment Instruments
Evaluations may include one or more of the following standardized, evidence-based instruments, selected based on the referral’s nature and purpose. Instrument selection is individualized to the referral question and clinical presentation. Not all instruments are administered in every evaluation. This is not an exhaustive list.
Substance Use
Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST)
Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST)
Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)
Cannabis Use Disorder Identification Test (CUDIT)
Addiction Severity Index (ASI)
ASAM Criteria — American Society of Addiction Medicine level of care framework
Mood and Anxiety
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)
Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D)
Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A)
Mood Disorders Questionnaire (MDQ)
Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS)
Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS)
Trauma and PTSD
Life Events Checklist for DSM-5 (LEC-5)
Trauma History Questionnaire (THQ)
Stressful Life Events Screening Questionnaire (SLESQ)
PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)
UCLA PTSD Reaction Index (UCLA PTSD RI)
STRESS Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5)
Anger
State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 (STAXI-2)
Dimensions of Anger Reactions (DAR-5)
Clinical Anger Scale (CAS)
Adult Autism (ASD) and ADHD
Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale-Revised (RAADS-R)
Adult Autism Symptom Checklist (ASRS)
ASRS v1.1 (Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale)
Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS)
Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale (WFIRS)
** Please note I do not regularly assess ADHD or ASD as standalone assessments and will refer to a neuropsychologist for formal testing for medication or other purposes. The ASD and ADHD assessment tools listed herein are completed, where appropriate, to gather a more comprehensive scope of problems affecting the clients I am assessing and/or evaluating, and to determine how those problems contribute to my clients’ overall impairment of function across a variety of dyads and domains.
Airmen seeking FAA medical certification or a Special Issuance Authorization who have a history of mental health treatment or substance use may be required to undergo a clinical evaluation as part of the certification process.
Regulatory Framework
FAA medical standards for airmen are governed by Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 67. Mental health and substance use standards are specifically addressed under:
14 CFR §§ 67.107, 67.207, and 67.307 — First, Second, and Third Class medical certificates, respectively, which identify substance dependence as a disqualifying condition, except where there is established clinical evidence, satisfactory to the Federal Air Surgeon, of recovery, including sustained total abstinence from the substance for not less than the preceding two years.
14 CFR § 67.401 — which defines the Authorization for Special Issuance of a medical certificate, allowing an airman to hold a medical certificate despite a disqualifying history, provided specific conditions are met, including ongoing monitoring, regular follow-up evaluations, and recovery program participation.
What the FAA Evaluation Process Involves
FAA evaluations are more complex than standard evaluations and involve substantially more pre-appointment preparation and post-appointment follow-up.
The process typically includes:
Request and review of your FAA airman file and submitted medical records before the appointment.
Structured clinical interview addressing history, treatment, recovery, and current functioning.
Psychometric evaluation using instruments appropriate to the FAA referral question.
A written report prepared to FAA standards, documenting findings, diagnostic impressions, and clinical opinion regarding recovery and fitness for flying.
Coordination with your Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) as appropriate.
A non-refundable retainer is required to initiate file review and confirm your appointment.
Please contact me directly to discuss FAA evaluation fees, as the final fee is determined by case complexity, volume of records, and report requirements.
A Note for Airmen
The FAA's regulatory definitions of substance dependence and substance abuse differ significantly from the clinical definitions used in the DSM-5-TR. These distinctions have remained largely static for decades, while clinical diagnostic standards have continued to evolve. Navigating that gap requires an evaluator with direct, practical experience at the intersection of clinical practice and FAA regulatory requirements. That experience is what I bring to every FAA evaluation I conduct.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Special Issuance Evaluations
ESA documentation is not a registration, a certificate, or an online letter. It is a clinically grounded written determination issued by a licensed mental health professional following a proper evaluation. Online registries and websites offering instant ESA letters without a genuine clinical evaluation do not meet Fair Housing Act or HUD standards, and a letter that cannot withstand scrutiny from a housing provider does not protect you. A proper clinical evaluation does.
The Legal Framework
The legal foundation for ESA housing accommodations is rooted in the Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 3601–3619, and HUD Notice FHEO-2020-01, which governs what documentation an individual seeking an ESA accommodation may need to provide. Under HUD guidance, internet-obtained documentation without a genuine clinical relationship is insufficient to reliably establish that an individual has a non-observable disability or a disability-related need for an assistance animal.
Under 42 U.S.C. § 3602(h), disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a record of having such an impairment, and/or being regarded as having such an impairment. The reasonable accommodation requirement is codified at 42 U.S.C. § 3604(f)(3)(B), which requires housing providers to make reasonable accommodations when necessary to afford a person with a disability an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling.
What My ESA Evaluation Includes
My ESA evaluation process is designed to meet the clinical and legal standards established under the FHA and HUD Notice FHEO-2020-01.
It includes:
A clinical interview addressing your mental health history, current symptoms, and functional impairment in daily life activities.
Review of relevant records where applicable.
Clinical determination of whether your condition meets the FHA and ADA definition of disability.
Assessment of whether an ESA provides disability-related support that mitigates your symptoms or functional limitations.
A professionally written ESA letter on letterhead documenting the clinical basis for the determination in terms consistent with HUD documentation standards.
The letter will identify the established clinician-client relationship, confirm licensure in Wisconsin, address the disability-related need for the animal, and include a current evaluation, as most housing providers require documentation issued within the preceding 12 months.
A Note on Air Travel
The regulatory landscape changed materially in 2021 when the U.S. Department of Transportation issued a final rule removing emotional support animals from the category of service animals under the Air Carrier Access Act. Airlines are no longer required to accommodate ESAs as service animals. ESA documentation does not currently provide air travel accommodation rights under federal law. Individuals traveling with ESAs should review individual airline pet policies directly.
A Note on Landlord Forms
Some landlords use their own forms and state that a full evaluation is unnecessary, indicating that a signature from a licensed mental health professional is sufficient. My ethical obligations and legal responsibilities as a licensed psychotherapist require that I conduct a thorough clinical assessment before signing any legally binding documentation that verifies disability status and establishes the necessity of an emotional support animal. My signature on any such document, whether a landlord's form or a formal ESA letter, constitutes a professional clinical attestation. Signing without a proper evaluation would be both ethically impermissible and legally indefensible. The assessment process protects you, ensures the documentation will withstand scrutiny, and ensures that my attestation is clinically sound and professionally defensible.
Wisconsin currently has legislation pending that would make it a crime to misrepresent ESA documentation, including instant online letters, and would impose penalties related to the clinician's licensure for clinicians who do so.
Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Evaluations
Evaluations differ from therapy in one important respect: The requesting entity receives a copy of the written report. Before your evaluation, you will be asked to sign a release authorizing the report to be shared with the court, probation agent, FAA, employer, or other requesting party. The scope of what is disclosed will be explained to you prior to your appointment.
Standard confidentiality protections under Wisconsin law and HIPAA apply to all evaluation records, subject to the terms of any releases you sign and applicable mandatory reporting obligations.
Confidentiality in Evaluation Context
Evaluation and assessment services are generally private pay. Most court-ordered, probation-referred, and regulatory evaluations are not covered by insurance. You are encouraged to verify your coverage before scheduling.
FAA Special Issuance evaluation fees are determined by case complexity, volume of records, and report requirements. This will be discussed before your appointment is confirmed. A non-refundable retainer is required to initiate the evaluation.
All fees are reviewed and agreed upon before your appointment is confirmed. Payment is due at the time of service.
For complete fee information, including therapy rates and accepted insurance, please visit the Fees and Insurance page.
Fees and Scheduling
Ready To Schedule an Assessment?
To request a fee schedule, ask questions about the evaluation process, or schedule an appointment, reach out however feels most comfortable to you. I will respond promptly.