Please be sure to watch our videos which will hopefully answer many of your questions.

I was referred to Dr. Long but did not see an option to schedule my intake appointment with her.?

Dr. Long is involved in the process and consults on many cases, but in order to keep the process moving along, the intake is conducted by other clinicians, and the testing is conducted by psychometrists.

Do you test for Autism?

At this time, BPTA does not provide comprehensive Autism Evaluations (which includes the ADOS). However we are able to screen for Autism in conjunction with testing for other diagnoses such anxiety, depression, ADHD, etc

What happens after I register online?

You will be sent additional forms through the portal that need to be completed. Once these are completed you will then request the initial video appointment.

I would like to request an appointment for more than one child (or myself and a child), how can I register for two appointments? Or the portal says that my email address is already in use?

If you would like to create an account for more than one client using the same contact information, please call or send an email and we will assist.

Why do I need to provide a credit card?

We require a credit card be entered at the time you request an appointment to ensure dedication to treatment.  This card will be used to pay any no-show or late cancellation fees that you incur as well as any patient balance for services rendered such as copays and deductibles. 

Do you take insurance?

Yes, we are in network with most insurance plans, including MassHealth

How do I know if my insurance will cover testing? 

You can call your insurance company and ask what your benefit is for psychological/neuropsychological testing. As a courtesy we will attempt to verify your insurance benefit and inform you only if you will be responsible for anything over your typical copay.   It is ultimately your responsibility to understand your insurance coverage. It is also your responsibility to notify of any insurance changes during the process and any non-coverage due to incorrect information will be your responsibility

When will the other appointments be scheduled?

Only the first appointment (intake appointment) is self scheduled. A psychometrist will contact you to schedule the in-person testing session sometime after your intake appointment. Please keep in mind that there may be a couple of weeks time between your intake appointment and testing appointment. The third appointment (results/feedback) will be scheduled approximately 12 weeks after your testing is complete. 

Do you test children?

Yes, we start testing children at age 9. Please keep in mind we do not test for Autism Spectrum Disorder. If you are having trouble finding someone that provides this testing- please see here for a list of providers in the area that perform this type of testing.

Do you offer virtual testing?

No. The initial intake appointment will be a video appointment but the actual testing must be done in person in either our Kingston or North Reading location.

What if I don’t speak English?

Unfortunately, at this time we are unable to evaluate and test clients that need an interpreter.  Most psychological tests are normed on English speaking clients and as a result we are not able to get a valid diagnosis
What if I use substances or consume alcohol?

We ask that you refrain from any marijuana use for 2 weeks prior to testing and alcohol for 48 hours.  We are not able to test anyone currently using illicit or recreational substances, opioids or drinking heavily. Please call for more information.
What if I am looking to diagnose a learning disability?

Testing to diagnose specific learning disabilities such as dyslexia and dyscalculia is not deemed medically necessary and not covered by insurance.  Also, many times testing solely for accommodations may not be covered by insurance. Please call or email for a price quote.

Why does the process take so long?

We see a high volume of clients and can only evaluate so many each day. Each client has an intake, testing, and feedback appointment. The testing day is usually 3-5 hours long, and from that- there is a large volume of data produced that must be integrated into a report that makes sense for you and your treatment team. Our finalized reports range from 30-50 pages at time, so please keep this in mind.

What if I have additional paperwork that needs to be completed for my school, work etc?

Any additional forms or paperwork outside of the report that you need completed by our psychologist will be billed at our hourly rate. This fee is not billable to your insurance.

Where do I send documents from teachers, therapists, or doctors?

You can either upload the documents to the client portal or send them to bptaoffice@gmail.com.

What is a psychometrist?

A psychometrist is someone with a background in psychology or other health field trained to administer psychological tests. They are not trained to conduct therapy - think of them as a phlebotomist, drawing blood for the doctor to analyze. While we do not use needles, our techs are able to gather data for our psychologists to interpret and make sense of.

How is testing performed?

Neuropsychological and psychological testing is standardized testing administered by one of our psychometricians in the office.  All testing is administered on either on an iPad, computer or paper/pencil.  We do not hook you up to any machines or scan your body in any way. The testing takes around 3-5 hours to complete.

What happens after I get my results?

Many times your results are best used in conjunction in your treatment with your referring provider, therapist or psychiatrist.  

How is my diagnosis determined?

The psychologists review your history and your test results. Test results are all scored and generated based on how you have endorsed the questions and statistical norms.

Is there anyone that you can not test?

Yes, there are some situations where our practice is not the best fit. The assessment process requires an individual to sit through several hours of testing and have some level of insight to answer questions about their experience. Therefore, we are unable to test anyone that is experiencing active psychosis, paranoia, or hallucinations. Additionally, we do not test anyone with a history of violence to support and ensure the safety of our staff. It is also important to understand that we are not forensic psychologists so we do not assess for competency, capacity, custody, or court ordered testing. In these situations we would refer you or your child out to a more suitable practice or facility. Lastly, we do not test for Autism Spectrum Disorder. If you are needing to find someone that does this, we have created a list of providers here.