FAQs

Please contact the office manager as soon as possible if for any reason you are unable to make your appointment. We understand that life happens and that, sometimes, due to weather, childcare, illness, or other scheduling conflicts, you need to change your appointment date or time. Do Not simply fail to show up to your appointment. This will reflect somewhat negatively upon your ability to responsibly care for your obligations.

The time it takes to complete the evaluation will vary from person to person. However, a basic psychological evaluation with parenting skills should take approximately 2 hours to complete. If further tests are requested, such as intelligence tests, substance abuse, or anger management task evaluation could take as much as three to 3 ½ hours.

If you require a break, you will be offered approximately 10 minutes duration during the middle of your evaluation for a cigarette, time to get up and stretch, or any other reason; however, only short and one time breaks will be allowed.

If you have another responsible adult who can watch your children while you undergo the evaluation process, there is some space in the waiting room for children. However, your evaluation will be most successfully completed if Dr. Kitchen has your full and unwavering attention and concentration. Because of this, unattended children, disruptive children, or children with special needs should not be brought to the appointment. Occasionally, a caseworker may be able to be available to watch your children, but this is something you need to work out between you and your caseworker.

Dr. Kitchen is willing to provide you with a copy of your completed evaluation report. However, the referring agency legally owns the report and, as a result, the caseworker/attorneys/or judge, must give permission for Dr. Kitchen to provide you a copy of the report (99.9% of the time this is not to be an issue). Occasionally, and always for Social Security disability clients, Dr. Kitchen is legally prevented from providing you a copy of the report. At that time, it is recommended that you request a copy from the referring agency. If you are paying for the evaluation yourself, the report is only provided to you upon completion with full for Dr. Kitchen’s services.

Absolutely. This is especially the case if you’re prescribed medication for depression, anxiety, or other emotional or mental health issues. Letting Dr. Kitchen know that you have issues such as depression, anxiety, or other concerns, and that you are responsibly treating such concerns, tends to reflect favorably on your overall outcome.

Dr. Kitchen’s secondary office in Dowagiac is ground floor with a ramp to the door. His main office in St. Joseph Michigan is not handicap accessible. He is on the second floor of a two-story building with no elevator in the building. If you need handicap access, please be specific that you need to go to his Dowagiac location.

Early morning appointments (beginning as early as 7 AM) and later early evening appointments (beginning as late as 5 PM) can be arranged depending upon the length of the evaluation requested. Remember some appointments can last up to 3.5 hours. However, these must be discussed between you and the office manager. Please be aware that if an early morning or late afternoon appointment has been allowed, this is a privilege and, should you fail to keep that appointment, you will be asked to reschedule during regular office hours.