Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

About Us

  • At Mind Mosaic Psychology, we provide evidence-based psychological services for children, adolescents, and adults in Charlotte, NC.

    Psychological Evaluations– In-depth assessments of cognitive, academic, social, emotional, and behavioral functioning

    Consultation Services– Targeted guidance for parents, adults, and professionals

    Workshops & Trainings– Educational and mental health workshops for schools and organizations

    Counseling Services– Therapy for anxiety, emotional regulation, and life transitions

  • We offer fully individualized, comprehensive evaluations led by specialists with advanced training in autism, ADHD, and learning differences. Our process is collaborative, thorough, and grounded in both science and real-world application. We translate data into clear guidance that works across schools, workplaces, and daily life. Learn More About Us HERE

  • Getting started is simple. Reach out through our contact form or schedule a call—we’ll walk you through the next steps and answer any questions along the way.

  • You can reach us anytime via our contact page or email. We aim to respond quickly—usually within one business day.

  • We are located in the heart of uptown Charlotte, NC. We are located in the Elizabeth neighborhood adjacent to Novant Presbyterian Hospital. Find us on a map here.

  • A Licensed Psychological Associate (LPA) is a mental health professional trained to provide testing, therapy, and other psychological services.  In North Carolina, LPAs have completed an advanced graduate degree in psychology—such as a master’s, Specialist in School Psychology (SSP), or Education Specialist (EdS) programs. Their training includes advanced coursework and extensive clinical experience.  LPAs understand emotional, behavioral, learning, and developmental differences and translate that understanding into practical, meaningful recommendations for clients and families.

    Learn more HERE

  • Being neuroaffirming means we shift the focus from "fixing" a person to supporting an individual.

    We view neurological differences as natural variations rather than deficits. We prioritize support over suppression, recognizing that your brain's natural wiring is something to be understood and accommodated, not cured.

Financial

  • We currently accept:

    • All major credit cards

    • Zelle

    • ESA+ Class Wallet

    • Most families also find that our services are eligible for HSA/FSA spending.

    You can also find more information about payment methods HERE.

  • Rates

    Each clinician will determine during the consultation the amount of testing needed to best serve your needs; the length of the test battery determines the cost and time required. Click Here for more information.

  • Mind Mosaic Psychology is out-of-network with insurance providers, but many insurance companies may cover some or all of the cost of services.

    At Mind Mosaic Psychology, we prioritize depth, precision, and long-term value.

    We operate as a private-pay practice because it allows us to provide a level of care that standard insurance models often cannot support.

    Lower-cost, insurance-based assessments often rely on standardized protocols, limited testing time, and generic recommendations. While these may provide a label, they frequently leave clients with more questions—and more expenses—down the road.

    By working independently of these constraints, we are able to offer the highest quality clinical services that are:

    • Truly Individualized: We design each evaluation around your specific questions, selecting the exact tools and spending the time needed—without external limits on testing duration or report length.

    • Timely and Accessible: Avoiding administrative approvals and delays lets us schedule more quickly and spend the time each evaluation actually requires.

    • Objective and Insightful: We provide high-level clinical interpretation to ensure your report serves as a functional tool for schools and workplaces.

  • We intentionally do not participate with insurance because insurance-based evaluations are designed to answer only the narrow questions required for reimbursement. This often means:

    • Limited assessment tools

    • Shortened testing time

    • One-size-fits-all protocols

    • Generic recommendations with little follow-through

    Our evaluations are different by design. By working outside of insurance constraints, we are able to:

    • Customize each evaluation based on your unique questions and goals

    • Spend the time needed for accurate interpretation and integration

    • Write reports that are clear, meaningful, and empowering

    • Provide recommendations that are evidence-based, individualized, and realistic within schools, workplaces, and daily life

    While our services may appear to cost more upfront, clients frequently tell us that the clarity, direction, and long-term usefulness of our evaluations save them time, money, and frustration in the future.

    You can find more information about why we choose to remain out of network and what makes us different HERE.

  • A Superbill contains the specific clinical codes your insurance provider needs to see to process a claim. While we provide this automatically at the end of an evaluation, we cannot guarantee reimbursement—that depends entirely on your specific Out-of-Network insurance benefits. We recommend calling your carrier and asking specifically about coverage for "outpatient psychological testing."

Appointments

  • Getting started is simple. Reach out through our contact form or schedule a call—we’ll walk you through the next steps and answer any questions along the way. We aim to respond quickly—usually within one business day.

    Click HERE to contact us

  • 1 - Once you make contact with our office, you will be given 48 hours to complete initial paperwork through the online electronic record portal.

    2- Once this is complete, our client representative will confirm a date for a consultation and/or testing. Please note that we encourage you to reserve any testing dates in advance because these book out rather quickly. You can schedule the testing when you meet for the consultation, but we cannot guarantee that this will be close to the date of consultation. To confirm any testing dates, a reservation payment earned upon receipt of $1700 is required for Sarah Smead, M.S., Ed.S. and and $1550 for Taylor Shirkey. This is non-refundable and applied to the balance held.

    3 - You are still required to complete the developmental questionnaire and intake form within one week of confirming your consultation appointment. You are at risk of losing this date, however, if these clinical forms are not completed.

    4- If you have a provider who referred you, please complete a release form (located in your client portal) to allow us to share information. Remember to submit a new form at the bottom for each person with whom you are consenting to exchange information.

    5 - If you have taken these steps, we will put you in our priority pool to ensure that you have first access to appointments as they become available.

  • Cancellation Policy

    If you are unable to attend a consultation session, please give at least 2 business days notice. Otherwise, you will be charged for the full rate of the session.

    For testing appointments, cancellations within 10 business days will incur a charge for the full reserved time. Testing fees are non-refundable unless there's an emergency (e.g., death in the family). In cases of significant illness or hospitalization, rescheduling is required; if rescheduling isn't possible, our office will determine eligibility for a refund. A one-time courtesy may be extended for therapy appointments in the event of illness or emergencies. Please email and call the office to coordinate rescheduling and adjustments.

  • During the initial (virtual) consultation, one or both parents are encouraged to attend without children, unless the person evaluated is an adolescent or adult. Everyone 18 or older can invite whomever they would like to attend to this initial 90 minute session.

    It is worth noting that having both parents of a child or teen ensures that we understand everyone’s perspectives. and that we adequately answer the questions that initiated the testing process.

    During testing appointments (in person), children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. This ensures that each child is comfortable navigating the transition to the testing room. Parents of older children are encouraged to stay nearby while waiting for breaks or for the child to finish.

    Parents are not able to stay in the room with the child due to standardization protocols for most tests.

    Each person evaluated is allowed time for breaks as needed. This is especially true for children, who can rejoin their parents in the waiting area.

    During the feedback session, this 90 minute virtual session is scheduled with adults or parents (of children). When discussing children’s results, both parents are encouraged to attend. The feedback session is one of the most important parts of this process. To miss this is to miss valuable insight into your child’s strengths/vulnerabilities, his diagnostic conceptualization, and/or thoughts on planning the trajectory, moving forward. These appointments can be scheduled to include parents with adolescents (usually asked to join for the last 20 minutes). If the family would prefer to schedule a separate feedback session, the 90-minute session can be split between two sessions. If additional time is needed, this can be scheduled separately with the office.

  • We make every effort to be responsive to your needs. We have specific office hours that you can schedule in advance. We respond to calls to our office within 24 hours, but our providers are not emergency personnel. 

    If you are experiencing a true clinical emergency and need immediate assistance, please call the Mecklenburg County Crisis Response System (704-566-3410), call 911 (request a Crisis Intervention Team Trained Officer), or go to your nearest emergency room.

    Learn More About Our Expert Team

Any Other Questions?

Please contact us for any additional questions you may have. We look forward to hearing from you.

(704) 765-2549