What services does Navesink Psychological Services offer?

Navesink Psychological Services offers individual and family therapy for children, adolescents, and adults, psychological evaluations for ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, and anxiety, sport and performance psychology, CBIT for tics and Tourette syndrome, SPACE for childhood anxiety, executive coaching, and esports behavioral health services. The practice is located in Red Bank, NJ.

Does Navesink Psychological Services accept insurance?

Navesink Psychological Services is a private-pay, out-of-network practice. Superbills are provided upon request so clients can seek reimbursement from their insurance provider directly.

Where is Navesink Psychological Services located?

Navesink Psychological Services is located at 55 Highway 35, Suite 6, Red Bank, NJ 07701, with an additional location in Oceanport, NJ. Telepsychology services are available across PSYPACT participating states.

How do I schedule an appointment at Navesink Psychological Services?

You can reach out to Navesink Psychological Services through the contact form at navesinkpsych.com/contact or by emailing mstrobel@navesinkpsych.com. Free consultations are available.

Before They'll Write the Prescription: What to Know About ADHD Evaluations

ADHD Evaluations Medication

Why a psychiatrist might ask for testing before they'll write a prescription, and what to expect from the process.

Matthew Strobel, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist · Navesink Psychological Services

navesinkpsych.com ↗

We get calls fairly often from families and individuals who are simply trying to get the medication they need, only to find out partway through the process that a formal evaluation is required first. By the time they reach us, they are often already running into real barriers: long waitlists for testing and the cost of an evaluation, on top of whatever it already took to get a psychiatry appointment in the first place. It is a frustrating place to land, especially when no one mentioned it earlier in the process.

I also see the reverse version of this: someone applies for accommodations at school, college, or work with nothing more than a short note from their primary care doctor, only to find out the request gets denied because a note isn't the same thing as documented testing. Both situations come back to the same underlying issue: an ADHD diagnosis based on a brief conversation is not the same as one backed by a real evaluation, and more and more that distinction matters.

Why your psychiatrist might require testing first

New Jersey regulates the prescribing of stimulant medications fairly closely. Prescribers are generally expected to document the specific diagnosis and the information the diagnosis is based on, including testing and consultations, before prescribing certain stimulant medications for ADHD. In practice, this means many psychiatrists will not prescribe a stimulant like Adderall, Ritalin, or Vyvanse based on a single intake conversation alone. They want documentation that supports the diagnosis, and a comprehensive evaluation provides exactly that.

For many of the most commonly prescribed stimulants, having a formal evaluation on file makes the prescribing process smoother, faster, and more defensible if records are ever reviewed.

This is also why a brief note from a primary care doctor often is not enough when someone applies for school, testing, or workplace accommodations. Accommodation requests typically require documentation of a diagnostic process, not just a diagnosis. A note saying "this patient has ADHD" does not show how that conclusion was reached. A full evaluation does.

What actually happens during an ADHD evaluation

At NPS, we offer two levels of ADHD evaluation, and which one makes sense depends on what you are trying to accomplish.

Shorter Evaluation

Clinical diagnostic interview
Standardized rating scales
Review of prior records
Collateral interviews (teachers, family, etc.)

Good for: starting or renewing medication when the primary goal is a documented diagnosis

Comprehensive Evaluation

Everything in the shorter evaluation
Cognitive (IQ) testing
Testing for related concerns (anxiety, learning differences, executive functioning, etc.)

Good for: medication, plus school, testing, or workplace accommodations

If your only goal is to get a psychiatrist the documentation they need to prescribe or renew medication, the shorter evaluation is often sufficient and more cost-effective. But if you are also applying for accommodations, whether that is an IEP or 504 plan at school, extended time on the SAT, LSAT, MCAT, or another board exam, or workplace accommodations, you generally need the more comprehensive evaluation. Accommodation requests almost always require evidence of cognitive functioning and a clearer picture of how ADHD, and anything else going on, is actually impacting the person, which the shorter evaluation alone does not capture.

A diagnosis tells you what is going on. A comprehensive evaluation tells you why, and what to do about it in every setting that matters: home, school, and work.

Choosing between a pediatrician and a full evaluation

This connects to a question we get constantly: should you start with your pediatrician or go straight to a psychologist? We wrote a full breakdown of that decision in our Pediatrician vs. Psychologist post, but the short version is this: a pediatrician can often get you a fast, accessible diagnosis, which may be all you need. A psychologist can give you a far more complete picture, including the documentation that medication management and accommodations often require down the line.

Frequently asked questions

Does every ADHD medication require formal testing first? ⌄

Not necessarily every medication, but many commonly prescribed stimulants carry documentation expectations under New Jersey prescribing regulations. Some non-stimulant options may not require the same level of formal testing. Your prescriber can tell you exactly what they need, but it's increasingly common for psychiatrists to ask for an evaluation before starting or renewing stimulant medication.

I already have a diagnosis from years ago. Do I need to be tested again? ⌄

It depends on how old the documentation is and what it includes. Many prescribers and accommodation systems want relatively recent testing, often within the last few years. If your prior diagnosis came from a brief conversation rather than a formal evaluation, that may also prompt a request for updated testing.

How long does an evaluation take? ⌄

Most evaluations involve a single day of in-person testing, sometimes with documents and rating scales sent ahead of time to complete beforehand. After testing, there is a feedback session, which can be done in person or by telehealth, where you'll review the results and recommendations together.

Why does it sometimes take so long to get an evaluation scheduled? ⌄

Demand for ADHD evaluations has grown significantly, and many practices, including ours at times, have waitlists. If you know you will need documentation for a psychiatrist or an accommodation request, it is worth starting the evaluation process as early as possible rather than waiting until medication runs out or a deadline is close.

Will insurance cover an ADHD evaluation? ⌄

Coverage varies by plan and by what the evaluation is testing for. Diagnostic evaluations focused on ADHD and related psychiatric or psychological concerns are more likely to have some coverage than evaluations focused purely on academic or educational testing. We recommend checking directly with your insurance provider, and we are happy to provide a superbill for potential reimbursement.

If a psychiatrist has asked you for documentation, or you are applying for accommodations and need more than a brief note, our evaluation team can help determine which level of testing actually fits your situation, so you are not paying for more than you need or showing up with less than what is required.

Reach out to discuss whether a shorter or comprehensive evaluation makes sense for you or your child.

Schedule a consultation