Coaching / Therapy (Introduction)
Click on the links to the Right to find out more about Coaching vs. Therapy.
Coaching
Coaching is distinguished from Therapy because: Coaching typically deals with problems that are less severe. (The goal is to improve adequate functioning to excellent functioning.) Coaching is always fee for service; there is no insurance benefit to cover Coaching Services. Because of this Coaching can be delivered either in person or by phone.
Therapy
Therapy is distinguished from Coaching because: Therapy typically deals with more severe problems that cause significant impairment in normal functioning. The goal is to restore the patient to normal functioning. Therapy can be fee for service, but is often covered by insurance when it is "medically necessary." Therapy is almost always delivered face to face. (There rare occassions when it is delivered by "telemedicine", but this is not the typical means and is not used by Behavioral Health, PLLC.)
Psychological Evaluations
Behavioral Health Psychology provides psychological evaluations only on referral from a physician, psychologist, or a contracted agency. Behavioral Health Psychology will accept requests for psychological evaluation directly from clients if the report is for Medical Clearance and will go directly to the Treating Physician. Coaching Assessments are not a medically necessary service and have fewer restrictions and rules related to appropriate practice. Behavioral Health Coaching accepts referrals for coaching assessments directly from clients.
Psychological Evaluations of cognitive capacity may evaluate for things like Attention Deficits, Memory Problems, Dementia, Learning Problems, Acquired Cognitive Deficits from Head Injury or Brain Disease, and similar issues. The tests are selected by the psychologist based on the particular situation. The tests administered might include things like the Wechsler Scales for Intelligence and Memory, Dementia Rating Scale, Continuous Performance Test, California Verbal Learning Test, etc.
Psychological evaluations to evaluate psychiatric illness are most often used to help clarify the diagnosis, help formulate the treatment plan, or determine if the psychiatric problems are so severe as to interfere with adaptive function (inability to parent, work, manage money, etc.) The tests used may include things like the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), Millon personality tests, rating scales from significant others, etc. Some evaluations may include both capacity and personality tests.
Referrals for psychological evaluation almost always come from a physician, most often a pediatrician, neurologist, surgeon, or psychiatrist. Sometimes referrals may come from agencies such as Vocational Rehabilitation, Departments of Social Service, or North Carolina Disability Determination Services.
If you think you need a Psychological Evaluation, the best referral to a qualified Psychologist may come from your health insurance plan (if it covers this service), your primary care physician, or from your Public Mental Health Agency.
If you have been referred to Behavioral Health and Consulting Psychology by the NC Department of Disability Determinations Services (NC DDS), please make all contacts directly to the NC DDS. The NC DDS provides links to other resources that may be appropriate for your questions. Neither Behavioral Health Coaching nor Behavioral Health and Consulting Psychology can answer questions about any disability related issue.