Outpatient Psychological Services

WCA Psychology Services offers a wide range of outpatient psychological assessments and treatments. We specialize in clinical services, which means that we assess and treat individuals with psychological problems. The goal of the assessment and treatment is the promotion of a positive life style for an individual who is asking for assistance.

This is different from a forensic evaluation which is seeking a more legal objective. A forensic evaluation is designed to assess an individual on behalf of the courts to answer specific legal questions. We do not provide forensic evaluations through outpatient services. As such, we do not produce reports for the court system, insurance companies, or for social security disability claims.

After an assessment is completed, the results are presented to the patient and/or the family and a written report is generated. The report generally includes information regarding diagnosis (if applicable), the need for follow up treatment, the need for medical evaluations, and recommendations to assist the patient with his/her everyday living.

After the therapist has verbally reviewed the results of the evaluation, he/she will complete the written report. The report will be sent to the referral source.

As a Psychology Department, we do not prescribe medications. We work as a team to provide medical recommendations to psychiatrists and local physicians. Individuals wishing to incorporate medications as part of their treatment will be referred back to their primary care physician or to a psychiatrist who will oversee their medication.

Inpatient Psychological Services

WCA Psychology Services' primary commitment to the inpatient units throughout the hospital is to provide clinical psychological consultation services. WCA Psychology Services performs these services on an as needed basis and operates under a referral system with the unit's physician.

The hospital's adult and adolescent inpatient psychiatric units employ WCA Psychology Services more than other units throughout the hospital because of the acute level of psychological issues associated with such a population. As such, there is regular and confidential communication between WCA Psychology Services and the staff of the inpatient mental health units. Although the hospital's mental health inpatient units are the primary consumer of WCA Psychology Services, there are other units throughout WCA Hospital, such as the Chemical Dependency Unit and medical units, that have access to our services.

Once the specific evaluation is completed, the results and recommendations are presented to the unit staff verbal oral and written reports. Recommendations from our evaluations typically include suggestions of level of care needed after discharge, the need for medical evaluations and/or medical interventions, and the need for follow up therapy and further psychological evaluations after discharge.

Psychology staff provide a flexible service between inpatient and outpatient care. For example, some services may be started on an inpatient basis and completed on an outpatient basis.