Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

  • While these professionals all support mental health, their training and roles differ:

    • Psychologists have a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) and specialize in assessment, diagnosis, and therapy.

    • Therapists and Counselors often have a master’s degree and provide talk therapy.

    • Social Workers help individuals connect to community support services, and many provide therapy.

    • Psychiatrists are medical doctors (MD or DO) who specialize in treating disorders in the brain. They often prescribe medication as a component of treatment to address chemical imbalances, and many are also trained in psychotherapy.

  • No, Columbus CAPS does not offer medication management. However, we frequently coordinate with prescribers such as primary care doctors and psychiatrists to provide integrated mental health care.

  • Therapy and medication often work best together. While medication can help regulate symptoms, therapy provides long-term strategies for managing emotions, behaviors, and relationships. We focus on equipping clients with skills to make lasting changes.

Psychotherapy & Counseling

  • No, therapy is for anyone seeking personal growth, emotional support, or coping strategies—whether or not you have a formal diagnosis. Many people start therapy to gain insight or navigate life challenges.

  • Not all therapists or approaches fit every person. The relationship between you and your psychologist is key to success. At Columbus CAPS, we tailor treatment to your unique needs and adjust our approach as needed.

  • If your primary concern is personal growth, emotional distress, or patterns in your own behavior, individual therapy is likely the best fit. If you and your partner are struggling with communication, trust, or relational challenges, couples therapy may be more appropriate.

  • Your first session is an initial evaluation, where we discuss your concerns, history, and goals for therapy. From there, we collaborate on a treatment plan tailored to your needs.

ADHD & Psychological Assessment

  • Psychological testing is an in-depth process using standardized tools to evaluate cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning. It helps provide clarity on concerns such as ADHD, learning differences, or personality traits.

  • If you (or your child) struggle with focus, organization, emotional regulation, or impulsivity, an ADHD evaluation can provide clarity. It assesses executive functioning skills and helps determine next steps for treatment or accommodations.

  • • ADHD testing focuses specifically on attention, executive functioning, and impulse control.

    • A full psychological evaluation may assess personality, emotional well-being, learning abilities, and mental health concerns.

  • Yes! We specialize in test interpretation and can help you understand the results, what they mean for your child, and how to advocate for appropriate school accommodations.

  • Yes, we offer second-opinion evaluations to clarify past results, provide additional insight, and ensure accuracy.

Guardianship & Legal Evaluations

  • A guardianship evaluation assesses an individual’s ability to make informed decisions about their personal, financial, and medical affairs. Courts often request these evaluations for elderly individuals, adults with disabilities, or minors in need of legal guardianship.

  • We conduct a structured assessment to evaluate cognitive abilities, judgment, and capacity for independent decision-making. This ensures the court has a clear picture of the individual’s needs while respecting their autonomy.

Insurance & Payment

  • Insurance: We are not currently in-network with any insurance providers.

    EAP Program: Columbus CAPS is contracted with Lyra Health to offer mental health services to employees of over 450 companies, including Starbucks, Wal-Mart, Google, OhioHealth, and Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

    Private-Pay: Columbus CAPS is a private-pay practice. We provide many of our patients a monthly Superbill they submit to their insurance companies for reimbursement at their out-of-network rate.

    Please contact us with any questions.

  • Yes, psychological services are typically considered qualified medical expenses for Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).

Scheduling & Next Steps

  • Scheduling is easy—click Schedule an Appointment or contact us directly to set up an initial consultation.

  • That’s okay! Reach out, and we can help figure out what questions you have and how we can best answer them, whether that‘s through therapy, psychological testing, or another service best fits your needs.

  • Yes. Our office for in-person appointments is in Columbus, Ohio. We also offer telehealth appointments to PSYPACT participating states.

  • Of course specific availability varies, but we strive to schedule new clients as soon as they would like to be seen. We can typically schedule your initial appointment within a week or two. Please reach out to discuss current openings.