International Adoption – Lighthouse Psychological Services PLLC

Evaluations for International Adoptions

Depending on the country you are adopting from, there are specific requirements the evaluation must meet. The process includes the diagnostic interview, review of records, personality questionnaires, and a written report.

The focus of the assessment is on your family and personal history, mental health history, and perspectives on parenting. The purpose of the questionnaires is to provide structured assessment of psychological symptoms that might be relevant to parenting.

Assessment Process

Diagnostic Interview:This is a 55 minute appointment where we can identify the presenting concerns and some important history. This interview is semi-structured in that I will go through a process of gathering the required information about you mental health and family history. It is also helpful to bring any previous records that might be relevant.

Questionnaires:The next step involves completing personality questionnaires or behavior checklists, which help to gather structured information about a range of difficulties. Some of these are completed in the office whereas others may be sent home with you.

Results: This is a 45-55 minute appointment where we review the results of the assessment. I will review the test results and whether any diagnosis or areas of concern were identified. For these types of evaluations, this appointment is not always required or even necessary.

Report: You will also be provided a copy of the report, which includes information about your history, test results, diagnosis, and recommendations. The report will cover the specific information that the country of origin is requesting. In some cases, I am required to have the report notarized and sent to the adoption agency. I charge a $35 fee for time spent notarizing.

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FAQ’s for Assessment

Do you provide a diagnosis?

Yes. I can never guarantee a specific diagnosis, but will work to consider all possibilities and provide the most appropriate diagnosis based up on the data gathered from the evaluation.

Does insurance cover the evaluation?

Usually. I can never be sure how insurance companies will process the evaluation. See the Insurance and Fees section for some helpful questions to ask your insurance company.

How long does the whole process take?

That depends on the type of evaluation. Generally from start to finish is about 3 weeks.

What do I need for my first appointment?

It’s helpful to bring any records that are relevant to the evaluation, which may include previous evaluation reports, school records, or medical records.

Please also bring the completed office paperwork, including the Registration Form, Consent Form, the Authorization for Release of Information (if I’ll need to share information with someone) and Insurance card (if applicable).

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