Frequently Asked Questions

At MindWorks, we take a comprehensive, strengths-based approach to psychological and psychoeducational assessment. Our goal is not only to identify areas of difficulty, but also to understand you or your child's unique pattern of strengths and needs and provide practical, individualized recommendations for moving forward.

When appropriate and with permission, we gather information from parents, teachers, therapists, and other professionals to help us understand how you or your child functions across different settings.

Our flat-rate fees allow us to tailor comprehensive evaluations to the individual's needs without charging for every additional test administered. For example, if testing reveals greater difficulty with reading than was initially expected, Dr. Salanga may add additional measures to examine areas associated with dyslexia, such as phonological processing, rapid naming, or orthographic processing, when appropriate.

Comprehensive evaluations typically include approximately 5–6 hours of one-on-one testing, generally divided across 1–3 appointments. Testing is designed to be engaging, and breaks are provided as needed so that each individual has the best opportunity to demonstrate their abilities.

After the evaluation is completed, you will receive a comprehensive written report that clearly explains the findings, identifies strengths and areas of need, and provides individualized recommendations. A feedback appointment with Dr. Salanga is also included to review the results, discuss recommendations, and answer your questions.

Every practice has skilled clinicians dedicated to helping their clients. At MindWorks, Dr. Salanga takes a personalized and comprehensive approach to understanding each individual's unique pattern of strengths and areas of need. Rather than focusing only on a diagnosis or test scores, we look at the bigger picture and provide practical, individualized recommendations that can be used at home, at school, and in everyday life.

Some of the features of our evaluations and reports include:

1. A Deeper Look at Learning Differences: We go beyond simply identifying a learning disorder such as dyslexia. When appropriate, we examine the specific skills that may be contributing to learning difficulties, such as phonological processing, rapid naming, and orthographic processing. Understanding these underlying areas allows us to provide more targeted recommendations, interventions, and accommodations.

2. Attention to the Whole Person: We consider how cognitive, academic, attention, executive functioning, social-emotional, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental factors may interact. Rather than looking at test scores in isolation, we integrate information across multiple areas to better understand the individual's overall pattern of strengths and needs.

3. Comprehensive Recommendations: Recommendations are individualized based on the evaluation findings and may include educational interventions, therapeutic support, strategies for home and school, lifestyle considerations, and accommodations when appropriate. Our goal is to provide recommendations that address the different factors that may be affecting an individual's functioning.

4. Practical and Actionable Recommendations: We provide specific examples of strategies, interventions, accommodations, and supports whenever possible. Our goal is for parents, educators, therapists, and individuals to leave the evaluation with a clear understanding of the findings and practical ideas for what to do next.

5. Parent, Teacher, and Provider Input: Test scores are only one part of an evaluation. When appropriate and with permission, we gather information from parents, teachers, therapists, and other providers to better understand how an individual functions across different settings. This information is integrated with testing results to develop a more complete picture of strengths and needs.

6. A Strengths-Based Approach: An evaluation should identify strengths as well as areas of difficulty. We emphasize an individual's abilities and help families understand how those strengths can be used to support areas of need. For children, we also emphasize patience, encouragement, and positive reinforcement while helping them better understand and appreciate their own unique learning profile.

Testing goes by many different names, and it is understandable for parents and individuals to be confused about the differences between psychological, psychoeducational, educational, and neuropsychological testing. There can be significant overlap in the tests used across these types of evaluations, but the purpose and scope of the evaluation may differ.

At MindWorks, we provide comprehensive psychological and psychoeducational evaluations that may use a variety of psychological and neuropsychological tests to examine areas such as cognitive functioning, attention and executive functioning, learning and memory, academic skills, emotional functioning, and neurodevelopmental concerns.

If you or your child needs an evaluation specifically related to a medical or neurological condition—such as a traumatic brain injury (TBI), seizure disorder, brain tumor, or another neurological or medical condition affecting cognitive functioning—we recommend seeking a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist with specialized training in evaluating these conditions.

MindWorks does not currently have a board-certified neuropsychologist and does not conduct evaluations specifically for medical or neurological conditions. We also do not conduct forensic evaluations for court or legal proceedings.

Yes. Public schools provide evaluations at no cost to families when an evaluation is warranted under special education law. School-based evaluations are primarily conducted to determine whether a student meets eligibility criteria for special education and to help identify the student's educational needs.

The scope of a school evaluation depends on the areas of suspected disability and may include cognitive, academic, attention, behavioral, social-emotional, speech and language, occupational therapy, or other areas when appropriate.

A private comprehensive psychological or psychoeducational evaluation may have a somewhat different purpose and can provide additional diagnostic clarification, a detailed understanding of a child's strengths and areas of need, and recommendations that may extend beyond the school setting.

It is also important to understand that a clinical diagnosis of ADHD, a learning disorder, autism, anxiety, or another condition does not automatically mean that a child qualifies for special education services. Schools use separate eligibility criteria under special education law.

California Regional Centers provide assessment and services for individuals with qualifying developmental disabilities. The type and scope of an evaluation will depend on the individual's needs, referral question, and authorization from the Regional Center.

MindWorks Psychological Assessments is an approved California Regional Center service provider for Service Code 056 – Interdisciplinary Assessment. We provide authorized psychological assessments that may evaluate autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, cognitive and adaptive functioning, and other relevant neurodevelopmental concerns.

Families interested in a Regional Center assessment should contact their Regional Center Service Coordinator regarding authorization and referral to MindWorks.

Learn more about our Regional Center Assessments.

Fees vary depending on the type and scope of the evaluation. Most comprehensive evaluations are offered at a flat rate of either $4,625 or $5,700, depending on the areas being assessed.

More focused evaluations, such as IQ testing for gifted programs, kindergarten readiness testing, and autism-only evaluations, typically have lower fees that vary depending on what is needed.

Please see our Fees page for additional information about what is included.

No, unfortunately, we do not accept insurance at this time. Due to the comprehensive nature of our evaluations and the number of testing and professional hours involved, insurance may not cover the full cost of an evaluation. However, MindWorks is considered an out-of-network provider.

Upon request, Dr. Salanga can provide you with a statement of your account and a Superbill using the appropriate billing codes, which you can submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. Many of our clients have been able to receive reimbursement for at least a portion of their evaluation costs.

It is important to note that coverage varies significantly by insurance plan. Many insurance companies do not cover educational testing, and those that do may reimburse only a portion of the cost. Psychological testing that is considered medically necessary may be eligible for greater coverage. We recommend contacting your insurance company directly to determine your specific out-of-network benefits and coverage for psychological testing.

Learn more about insurance on our fees page.

What Will Testing Feel Like for Me or My Child?

Testing is designed to be comfortable and engaging. Depending on the type of evaluation, activities may include puzzles, questions, questionnaires, reading, writing, math, memory activities, and other interactive tasks.

For children, we generally recommend arriving well rested and having a good breakfast before testing. Children receive plenty of breaks throughout the session, so we also recommend bringing a snack and water. Testing can be divided into multiple appointments when needed based on the child's age, attention, and comfort level.

Once your evaluation is scheduled, we will send you detailed information about what to expect and how to prepare for the testing appointment.

Our office is located directly across the street from The Commons at Calabasas. We are on the second floor and share an office suite with other mental health professionals.

When you enter the lobby, you will see Dr. Salanga’s name on the board with a light switch. Click the light switch and she will come out and get you.

If your child would feel more comfortable seeing pictures of the place before they arrive for easier transitioning, we will be happy to email some over to you.

Can I Stay With My Child During the Evaluation?

Parents are welcome to stay in the lobby during testing. In most cases, however, we recommend that parents or caregivers not remain in the testing room because their presence can affect the standardized testing environment and may influence test results.

You are welcome to come into the testing room with your child at the beginning of the appointment to help them get comfortable, ask questions, and meet with Dr. Salanga before testing begins.

For children under age 10, we ask that a parent or caregiver remain in the lobby during the evaluation. For children over age 10, parents may leave the office as long as they remain within approximately 15 minutes and are available by phone. The Commons at Calabasas is directly across the street and has restaurants, coffee shops, and stores if you would like to remain nearby.

No. MindWorks specializes exclusively in psychological and psychoeducational assessment and does not provide ongoing psychotherapy or treatment services. When appropriate, we are happy to provide referrals or recommendations for other professionals as part of the evaluation process.