Skip to main content

Center for Assessment and Psychological Services

The Center for Assessment and Psychological Services (CAPS) provides assessment, consultation, professional development training, and counseling/intervention services for the pediatric through young adult population.  

CAPS utilizes a team-based approach to our evaluation and therapy service delivery, with advanced level graduate psychology students providing services under the direct supervision of licensed Radford University psychology faculty. 

CAPS has a dual mission

  • providing quality psychological services to the RU community and regional community members at reduced fees; and
  • providing on campus clinical and research training experiences for graduate psychology students in our pediatric/school psychology and counseling psychology graduate programs.

Polices, Fees and Payment

Clients do not have to be affiliated with Radford University to use CAPS services. Clients are provided services by appointment only—we do not provide walk-in, crisis or emergency services. Given graduate student involvement in service delivery, we also do not provide services to clients that are currently suicidal, violent, or those seeking evaluations for legal purposes (e.g., custody issues).  

CAPS has a sliding scale and payment plans for evaluation and intervention/counseling services. We provide services at a reduced fee—often 2-3 times lower than private practice evaluation services.  We do not accept insurance and insurance providers do not typically reimburse for services provided for a flat fee and/or by graduate student trainees. For this reason, agreeing to receive services at CAPS means you will pay the full costs for services received out-of-pocket. Clients may wish to contact their insurance company to determine if they can be reimbursed directly for all, or a portion, of our fees. You are also welcome to contact your health plan for additional information or if you wish to find an in-network provider or facility. CAPS clients are entitled to protections under the No Surprises Act and A Good Faith Estimate of charges will be provided to you prior to your first appointment.  Information regarding your rights under this law can be found here. We only accept cash, check or money order at this time. Please contact us directly by email caps@radford.edu for more information about current fees and polices.

Hours of Operation

CAPS is typically open Monday through Friday (8 a.m.-5 p.m.) across fall, spring and summer sessions. Appointments in the evening (5-7:30 p.m.) or when the university is on break are available by request.

Requests for Services

CAPS accepts self-referrals and does not require a referral from a mental health or medical provider prior to services. Clients can complete requests for services here.  We strongly encourage clients to contact CAPS for information regarding our current services, fees, and waitlist timelines prior to completing the online request for services.

For more information about our services please contact CAPS staff

Location: Hemphill Hall 5201 (5th floor), Radford, Virginia campus map [PDF]
Email:  caps@radford.edu (preferred method of contact)
Phone: 540-831-5019
Fax: 540-831-6113

CAPS Licensed Faculty Supervisors

Mrs. Emily Dove, Director of CAPS, Special Purpose Faculty, Psychology Department
Dr. Jennifer Mabry, Clinical Supervisor, Associate Professor, Psychology Department

Comprehensive Psychological Evaluation

Comprehensive psychological evaluations assess the client’s functioning in areas associated with learning, behavior, social skills, mood and anxiety, and cognitive processing. We provide evaluation services for clients ages 3 to 22. These evaluations typically take 6-8 hours of the client’s time across multiple sessions. Specifically we can evaluate and diagnose disorders such as the following (not an exhaustive list):

  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • Anxiety and Mood Disorders (e.g., Generalized Anxiety Disorder-GAD)
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
  • Gifted/Talented (K-12th)
  • Disorders/functioning following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI, Concussion)C
  • Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) in reading, math, or writing (includes dyslexia)

Our psychological evaluation process is designed to be comprehensive and assess across methods, domains, and sources. School neuropsychological evaluations may be available depending upon referral questions and licensed faculty expertise. We will tailor the evaluation to meet the needs of the client and to answer any referral concerns, but typical evaluation components are provided below.

Methods typically include:

  • Behavioral observations (during assessment; classroom settings when feasible)
  • Clinical/developmental history interview
  • DSM-5 diagnostic clinical interviews
  • Questionnaires/rating scales
  • Record review (records provided by client; any records obtained by CAPS after a release is signed)
  • Standardized performance-based assessment (working directly with the client)

Domains typically include:

  • Academic (reading, mathematics, written expression, academic fluency)             
  • Behavioral, social, emotional, personality
  • Cognitive/neurocognitive processing (overall cognitive ability/IQ, verbal reasoning, nonverbal reasoning, attention, memory and learning, and executive function)

Sources may include:

  • Client (child, adolescent or young adult)
  • Parents/caregivers
  • Spouse/other informant
  • Teachers/school personnel

Counseling and Intervention Services

Counseling and intervention services are provided to assist clients with cognitive, behavioral, social or emotional concerns. Depending on the referral concerns we may include diagnostic assessment measures and methods (e.g., rating scales or diagnostic DSM-5 clinical interviews) as part of the therapy protocol to confirm diagnosis, inform treatment selection or inform selection of treatment outcome measures. Any such assessment measures included for counseling cases will be charged the same hourly rate as the client is paying for therapy. We emphasize providing the following types of counseling and intervention services (not an exhaustive list):

  • Anxiety, depression, emotional difficulties, adjustment to life
  • Cognitive, behavioral, and social skills deficits associated with ADHD, ASD or SLD
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for ADHD, ASD, or GAD characteristics
  • Cognitive/Neurocognitive difficulties associated with ADHD, ASD or SLD
  • (e.g., cognitive processing speed, working memory, attention, executive functioning)
  • Computerized CBT program to address children’s anxiety issues (e.g., Coping Cat: Cope Camp A Lot)
  • Computerized/Online neurocognitive training (e.g., working memory, inhibition)
  • Pharmacological Effectiveness Monitoring (e.g., stimulant medication for ADHD)
  • School problems, Response to Intervention Monitoring (RtI, academic or behavioral)
  • Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

Consultation and Clinical Training Services

Consultation and clinical training (workshops) services are provided to assist clients, community-based mental health professionals, schools and organizations with variety of needs. Fees will vary depending upon client needs and CAPS staff involved. Examples of the types of services available include (not an exhaustive list):

  • Accommodations for Children and College Students with Disabilities
  • Behavior Management, Parenting or Teacher training
  • Best Practices in Clinical Supervision
  • Best Practices with Psychological Assessment and Report Writing
  • Case Study Consultation, Independent Educational Evaluation Consultation
  • Cognitive, Behavioral, and Social Skills Deficits Associated with ADHD, ASD or SLD
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for ADHD, ASD, or GAD Characteristics
  • Crisis Intervention, Threat and Suicide Assessment in Schools (K-12th)
  • Cross Battery Approach to Assessment
  • Culturally Responsive Practices
  • Ethical Practices for Providing School-Based Psychological Services
  • Executive Dysfunction Impact on Educational, Social and Behavioral Functioning
  • Neuropsychological Assessment and Intervention
  • Pharmacological Effectiveness Monitoring (e.g., stimulant medication for ADHD)
  • Program Evaluation
  • Response to Intervention Monitoring (RtI, academic or behavioral)
  • School-Based Mental Health Crisis Prevention and Response Training (PREPaRE Workshop 1 and Workshop 2)
  • Using DSM-5, DSM-5 Disorders Compared to IDEIA (special education) Categories

Recent Projects Include:

  • Mindful Parenting Training
  • Executive Function Coaching for High School Students
  • Executive Function Coaching for College Students

Clinical Research Activities and Projects

The role of research in informing psychological service delivery and clinical training models matters to our applied psychology graduate programs. Research projects include single-subject design, case series studies, qualitative inquires, and retrospective and prospective research studies. These activities and projects are designed to assist in informing our evidence-based practices at CAPS and to encourage student-faculty collaborative contributions to the scientific literature regarding the efficacy of a variety of psychological services and training models.

Frequently Asked Questions

Appointments

Do I need to be a Radford student or employee to access CAPS services?

No, CAPS services are available to RU students and employees, as well as members of the surrounding New River Valley communities.

How can I schedule an appointment?

Individuals interested in CAPS services can complete requests for services.  We strongly encourage clients to contact CAPS for information regarding our current services, fees, and waitlist timelines prior to completing the online request for services.  Once the online referral form is completed and submitted, a clinician will review your form and contact you via email with available appointment dates and times.

Do I need a referral from my mental health provider or physician to request an appointment?

No, CAPS accepts self-referrals and does not require a referral from a mental health or medical provider prior to offering services.

Do you have a waiting list?

Yes, we keep a waiting list for evaluation and counseling services.  You will be added to the waiting list after we receive your online referral form.  We will contact you to schedule your first session as soon as we are able to offer you an appointment.

How long is your waitlist?

Our waitlist times varies throughout the course of the year, and we encourage potential clients to email CAPS caps@radford.edu for current estimates.

How long does it take to complete an evaluation?

Comprehensive evaluations typically take 3-5 sessions to complete.  Each session is scheduled for 2-3 hours, depending upon the client’s age and referral concerns.  Following the last session, another 2-3 weeks is typically needed to complete the report. 

Are there any types of referrals or concerns that are not appropriate for CAPS?

Given graduate student involvement in service delivery, we do not provide services to clients that are currently suicidal or violent or those seeking evaluations for legal purposes (e.g., custody issues).  Clients who have been recently hospitalized for mental health concerns or are experiencing significant mental health symptoms (e.g. hallucinations, paranoia) are also likely not appropriate clients for CAPS.  Additionally, since CAPS is a training center, certain referral concerns may be prioritized over others, in order to meet graduate student training needs.

What are CAPS hours of operation?

CAPS is open Monday through Friday (8 a.m.-5 p.m.) across fall, spring and summer sessions. Appointments in the evening (5-7:30 p.m.) or when the university is on break are available by request.

What is the best way to get in contact with a clinician or supervisor at CAPS?

The best way to contact our office is by email caps@radford.edu. You are welcome to also call and leave a message; however, our front office is not fully staffed and there may be delays in returning phone calls.

Does CAPS accept walk-in clients?

Clients are provided services by appointment only—we do not provide walk-in, crisis or emergency services.

Does CAPS provide emergency mental health services?

No, CAPS does not provide emergency mental health services.  Our staff does not maintain 24-hour access to email and may only check email and phone messages infrequently, and not at all on weekends or holidays. If you consider your situation to be an emergency, contact ACCESS at 540-961-8400 or CONNECT at 540-731-7385 or 9-1-1 for your local emergency response system. You may also contact the National Suicide Hotline at (800) 273-8255 or utilize the Crisis Text Hotline.

Does CAPS accept medical insurance?

No, CAPS does not bill or submit claims to insurance companies.

What types of payment does CAPS accept?

CAPS is able to accept payments in the form of cash, check, and money order.

How do CAPS evaluation and counseling services cost?

CAPS has a sliding scale and payment plans for evaluation and counseling services. We provide services at a reduced fee, often 2-3 times lower than private practice evaluation services. Please email caps@radford.edu for more information about current fees and polices.

Does CAPS offer any discounts on fees?

Yes, Radford University (main campus) and Radford University Carillion students and faculty receive a 20% discount on their evaluation fees. Students and faculty from other Virginia universities and community colleges in the area receive a 10% discount. Payment plans are also available upon request.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at caps@radford.edu.

Evalution Fees and Billing

Polices, Fees and Payment

Clients do not have to be affiliated with RU to use CAPS services. Clients are provided services by appointment only—we do not provide walk-in, crisis or emergency services. Given graduate student involvement in service delivery, we also do not provide services to clients that are currently suicidal, violent, or those seeking evaluations for legal purposes (e.g., custody issues).  

CAPS has a sliding scale and payment plans for evaluation and intervention/counseling services. We provide services at a reduced fee—often 2-3 times lower than private practice evaluation services.  We do not accept insurance and insurance providers do not typically reimburse for services provided for a flat fee and/or by graduate student trainees. For this reason, agreeing to receive services at CAPS means you will pay the full costs for services received out-of-pocket. Clients may wish to contact their insurance company to determine if they can be reimbursed directly for all, or a portion, of our fees. You are also welcome to contact your health plan for additional information or if you wish to find an in-network provider or facility. CAPS clients are entitled to protections under the No Surprises Act and A Good Faith Estimate of charges will be provided to you prior to your first appointment. Information regarding your rights under this law can be found below.

We only accept cash, check or money order at this time. Please contact us directly by email (caps@radford.edu) for more information about current fees and polices.

Standard Notice - Right to Receive a Good Faith Estimate of Expected Charges Under the No Surprises Act

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost

Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.

  • You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.
  • Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least one business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
  • If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
  • Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call CPSD at 804-828-8069.

Executive Function Coaching

Executive function coaching provides individual, one-on-one, support to help clients develop skills for improving daily functioning. Executive function (EF) is a term used to describe a set of neurocognitive/neurobehavioral processes that help individuals regulate behaviors and emotions to achieve their own goals. The focus of EF coaching is development and implementation of strategies to reach client-identified goals of enhanced performance and personal satisfaction. EF coaching may address specific personal projects, life balance, job performance and satisfaction, or general conditions in the client’s life. EF Coaching utilizes personal strategic planning, values clarification, brainstorming, motivational counseling, and other counseling techniques.

EF coaching sessions occur more often than counseling sessions and are time limited because coaching sessions focus on client’s progress towards their goals. Unlike counseling/psychotherapy, EF coaching does not focus on identification, diagnosis, or treatment of mental and nervous disorders. Instead, EF coaching is designed to help client’s meet their daily goals and improve their EF functioning through skill development, increased accountability, and improved motivation. Collaborative problem-solving can occur to decide next steps in continuing, modifying goals or ending coaching. Coaching is flexible in terms of schedule and setting, providing convenience for clients and clinicians to provide and receive services by telephone or video. CAPS EF coaching services are available for high school and college students. Our EF coaching services typically includes 8-10 individual sessions across 4-6 weeks. Please contact CAPS  by email caps@radford.edu for more information and availability.

Apply NowPlan a Visit