What is Collaborative Therapeutic Assessment?

In addition to traditional psychological and neuropsychological testing, Dr. Tom Malia also conducts Collaborative Therapeutic Assessments (CTA). CTA is a research-based approach to testing where the key goal is to facilitate insight, growth, and change using psychological tests. This approach is strengths-based, collaborative, and client-driven. CTA de-emphasizes assigning a diagnosis. Instead, it focuses on shining a light on the interpersonal, emotional, and behavioral patterns clients fall into, and helping to bring about changes in these during the testing process.

Unlike traditional assessments, which are conducted in one or two days, CTA extends the testing process over multiple meetings which also involve processing and discussing the tests and the client’s responses and experiences in near real time. This process allows the tests to become a structured therapeutic tool in helping clients to better understand themselves and grow.

We are currently able to offer CTA for teens and adults ages 15 and up. However, CTA may not be appropriate for all clients or situations, such as when testing is needed for school accommodations or in urgent or emergent cases. To find out if CTA may be a good fit for you or to schedule an appointment to get started, please call or email us.

Collaborative Therapeutic Assessment can be covered by insurance, and Dr. Tom is an in-network provider with Aetna, Cigna, and United Healthcare. CTA is a self-pay services for clients with other healthcare plans. Please visit our financial page for information on costs.

5 Steps to Expect in a CTA

  1. An initial appointment where we meet to talk about what you would like to learn or understand about yourself in the testing process.

  2. 4 to 6 testing sessions where you will complete various testing measures that will help us understand different aspects of who you are. We’ll also spend time each session exploring your experiences with the tests and talking about the results as we have them.

  3. A discussion session where we’ll review the overall themes and patterns that came out in our work together and discuss how the information we have can answer the questions you developed at the start of the process. This meeting is typically conducted with your therapist present (if you have one) to make sure they have the information they need to help you continue the work that you’ve done or started in the CTA process.

  4. Following the discussion, we’ll send you a letter that summarizes our work together, the insights we gained through it, and the growth that you’ve made through the process.

  5. An optional follow-up session is sometimes scheduled after you receive your letter if you would like to further discuss or process the results in any way.

The Therapeutic Assessment Institute FAQ page has additional helpful information on what this process looks like.

Schedule your assessment

We look forward to helping you on your journey. Please click below to submit an interest form and our team will contact you within 1-2 business days.