Tell me about your Psych Evals!

The cost for our psych evaluation was $300. We went to the psychologist's office and talked with him for about an hour. Then he sent us to the waiting room with clipboards, pencils and a personality test that took me about 30 minutes and my husband closer to an hour to complete. I'm not sure of the name of the test, but it was a fill in the circle kind of thing. There is no mention of the test on our psych letter in the dossier. The letter is just over one page long and gives a little family background info on each of us as well as the conclusions that the psychologist drew from our tests and talking with us. Apparently we're not nuts, yea! It took less than a week to get our letter after our appointment. Our dossier has been approved, so the letter must have been okay. Good luck, Joan

It really isn't that big of a deal, but I was very nervous about it. I called our local homestudy agency to see if they had any ideas and they gave me a name of someone they work with but she didn't do personality tests (not many people do anymore I was told). She gave me a couple of other names to try and one is part of our local medical system here, the "Behavioral Health" division. The only way it would be covered by insurance is if we had some sort of a mental health problem, but then that wouldn't be good for the adoption! I talked to him for 1 hours (it was pretty painless, tell me about your childhood, marriage, what will be most challenging about being a parent...) and then took the personality test. It was the MPIP test or something like that. It was about 500 true or false questions (it took over an hour) everything from "I like to read fishing magizines" to "I hear voices that aren't there". It took him about one to two weeks to write the report and evaluate the test and it costs $574 for both me and my husband (we each had separate appointments and he wrote individual reports for each of us.) Hope this helps, good luck!

Joan, That's interesting because we had to each have an individual report (about 2 to 3 pages) and have the results of each of our personality tests as part of our dossier. The test results were about 4 pages of charts that showed how we compared with I don't know what, a "normal" person? He also referenced his interpretation of the results of the tests in the reports but we had to have the official results of the test as part of the dossier along with a copy of his psych license. Julie

Update: A 2nd psychologist returned my call and I like her much much better than the first lady (the one I'd actually counseled with years ago). This doc will talk to us for a few minutes before handing us the test, as she feels it's only right to really meet us. But she says we can come in and talk with her together (the other chick said we had to do this separately). She'll hand us the test and we can take our time in the waiting room. She'll charge us a total of $360 and have the results/report back in 1 1/2 weeks at the most. She was so excited for us adopting internationally and can't wait to meet us in person. She is obviously adoption-friendly (which helps in case we ever need her down the road) and seems like a genuinely nice person. I got a great feeling so I immediately set up our appointment with her. She, too, wants to do the PAI. I called CAI and Raul had no idea about the psych eval so he put a call into Tucson to make sure this particular test was acceptable...but I'm sure it is. Just waiting on the official ok about using this test. We, too, have to obtain a copy of her license (and any graphs/charts) and thankfully she is perfetly happy to comply. Julie, nice to see our Commonwealth dossier instructions are the same. Can't help but wonder about it sometimes since my caseworker (and this local office) hasn't had a single speck of experiene with Panama adoption. Guess I'm back on the paperchase now, after taking a mental break. Yippee!!!!!!!!! Thank you, God, that this turned out to be cheaper than I thought. Crazy as a loon, Robin

Be sure you get a confirmation that the PAI will be accepted by the Direccion National de Adopciones, because our homestudy agency told us that MOST countries require the MAPP (or MIPP) test that "JUF" mentioned above. But here are our answers: 1. Which test did you have? --We didn't. We are adopting independently and were advised to wait until we get to Panama and meet with the judge. If the judge WANTS us to take the test, he/she will order it, and we'll be sent to the main hospital in Panama City. Since the test will be state-ordered, it will be FREE!!! And if the judge feels comfortable with us and doesn't order it, we won't need to worry about it anyway. (Our attorney is going to schedule the appointment for us IF the judge orders this test.) 2. How much did it cost? --see above 3. How long did it take to complete? --We were told that if we DO have to take the test in Panama, it will take 2 days (1 day/appointment for husband, 1 day/appointment for me). But since we'll be in Panama for a mimimum of 2 weeks (sounds like longer), we'll have plenty of time to wait on the results. :D 4. How long did it take for your results? --see above Rebecca P.S. Some agencies are requiring the psych evals, but I can tell you that our dossier was approved within 2 weeks of submitting it to the DNA without the psych evals. (Our medical letter did have a line about us being "physically and psychologically healthy," though. However, I did write to the DNA director and she told us that this medical letter will NOT substitute for a psych eval IF the judge wants one.)

We took the same test as JUF did, and I believe it cost us 280 for both my husband and I and the report. I believe CAI is pretty strict on which test you have done. I believe it has to be one that they list, but hey that may have changed. I would be very very nervous waiting to take the test in Panama, but this is just me I like all my ducks in a row one last thing to worry about with a program that has so many unknowns. It was woth the three hundred bucks, peace of mind for us:) Little advice do not set anything up for your eval until you hear from CAI, ask your person if they do any of the tests on the list, if not try and find someone who does, just in case. It really is no biggy. Our eval just consisted of an interview and a test and that was it, it was interesting reading the results. I know CAI will require you have the eval and the graphs and charts and the psychologists license included in your dossier. Good luck, TanyaB

I have had a ****ens of a time finding a psychologist that does ANY personality test let alone any on the list. Out of the dozen or so I interviewed, only 2 do testing. And those two use the PAI. I put a call into CAI last Friday and have YET to hear back. Now, my caseworker tells me to hurry up with the psych eval, yet doesn't return my query if the PAI is acceptable. Getting pretty ticked at CAI these days, rubbing me the wrong way. Course I'm pretty sensitive and sometimes dislike authority figures (get defensive), so being held up to a microscope and being at peoples' mercy and convenience is taking a toll on me lately. I will email CAI tonight. They can't tell me to hurry then ignore such an important question. That doesn't fly with me. Robin

I also had a difficult time finding someone that does the correct testing. We found a school psychologist that does these test on the side. He comes to your house. He charged us $300. It took a couple of hours and he had the paperwork turned around in under a week. He even had to make some changes to the paperwork and it was done in a day. The test was an MMPI (I believe). We had to send the actual test results and the psychologist write up. He took most of our history from the homestudy. Anyone in the Phoenix or Tucson Arizona area could use him. PM me and I will send you his information. Lauri

According to my caseworker, Panama does not accept the PAI. Luckily, a psychologist called ME Friday after one of the dozen or so psychs I'd interviewed called him on our behalf. He does the MMPI (apparently this is Panama's favorite) and is only going to cost $300. My caseworker was at a loss to help us find one. Funny how a doc calls me instead. There is a God! We'll get the testing Monday. Yippee!!!!! Robin

For those who have already taken this MMPI test, met with the psychologist, and got the paperwork back.... **When you had it authenticated, were you able to "bundle" the: 1) letter from psychologist summarizing the test results and his/her view of your psychological health, 2) actual test results, and 3) psychologist's license? When I say "bundle," I mean were you able to staple or paperclip these (x 2, one for you and one for spouse) and have them ALL notarized, apostilled, AND authenticated as ONE document (for each of you...so 2, really)? OR...did you have to have each item (letter, test results, and license) authenticated separately??? * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * I'm asking this because based on what everyone is saying about the MMPI being THE test to take, my dh and I are thinking of getting it done in a few weeks since I teach at a university, have pals in the Psych dept., and can get it done for a reasonable fee. We certainly wouldn't send it to the DNA since our dossier is already approved, but it couldn't hurt to have a copy of it (authenticated by the Panamanian government!) to show the judge!!! Thanks for the info! Rebecca

Rebecca, We were told that we did not have to have anything authenticated only apostilled so I don't know if this will help you. We had the report and test results as one document (actually 2 one for myself and one for my husband) that was notarized and apostilled and then a copy of the Dr's license was also notarized and apostilled. We did only need one copy of the license since we used the same psychologist. So we have 3 separate documents, psychologist's report and the test results for myself and husband and 1 license. Hope this helps. Julie

Rebecca, Ours is the exact same as Julies, we did not have them authenticated, just notarized and apostilled. We had my report his report and the dr.s license. Tanya

We have to have a copy of my report, a copy of his report, a copy of any and all graphs & charts for both of us, and a notarized copy of the licensed psych's license (just one copy of the license since we saw the same doc). The psych laughed at the fact that Panama wants the charts & graphs because he said unless you're a psych yourself, they're impossible to read. The doc will get a copy of his license notarized for us and is mailing me all the materials directly. Panama doesn't require authentication for anything, as I understand it. Everything just has to be notarized and apostilled. Robin