Frequently Asked Questions
Seeking therapy or undergoing a forensic evaluation can come with a lot of questions, especially during a difficult period in your life. Medlin Treatment Center is dedicated to helping you navigate this process with clarity and compassion. We’ve answered our most common questions below to help you take the next step.
To get started, please fill out the Request for Services form located above. Once submitted, a member of our administrative team will contact you directly to schedule your appointment. This form is a required step, as it provides us with the essential information needed to match you with a therapist or psychologist whose experience and specialties best fit your unique needs.
Our office accepts Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Ambetter, Cigna Healthcare, UnitedHealthcare, Traditional Medicaid, and their associated CMOs, including CareSource of Georgia, Amerigroup (also known as Wellpoint), and Peach State (also known as Cenpatico).
Please note that insurance coverage varies depending on the specific service you are seeking. For clinical, non-court-related ADHD or general psychological evaluations, we only accept Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. For forensic psychological or psychosexual evaluations that are court-related matters, we do not accept insurance and offer private pay.
Please fill out the form below to request medical records. Medical records requested from non-clinical organizations will be charged a $15 administrative fee to cover printing or faxing costs.
Please fill out the authorization of the release of information form below and we will share your records with the requested party.
When seeking the services of a mental health professional, it is common to confuse therapy with a psychological or forensic evaluation. While both are conducted by trained specialists, they serve different purposes, have different goals, and involve different types of relationships.
Here is a breakdown of the key differences.
Therapy (Treatment)
The goal of therapy is change and healing. It is a collaborative process designed to help you understand your emotions, manage mental health symptoms, cope with life stressors, and improve your overall well-being over time.
Psychological or Forensic Evaluation (Assessment)
Psychological or Forensic Evaluation (Assessment): The goal of an evaluation is information and answers. It is a formal process used to answer a specific question.
- A psychological evaluation might answer: "What is this person's diagnosis, and what treatment do they need?"
- A forensic evaluation might answer a legal question for a court, such as: "What is the best interest of the child in this custody dispute?"
Therapy: The therapist acts as an advocate and supporter. Their primary duty is to you, the client. They work "on your side" to help you achieve your personal goals in a safe, non-judgmental space.
Therapy: The process is ongoing and flexible. It typically involves weekly or bi-weekly sessions lasting 45 to 60 minutes. Therapy can last for several months or even years, depending on your needs, and the focus can shift as your life circumstances change.
Evaluation: The process is structured and time-limited. It usually takes place over one or two sessions, which can last several hours. It involves standardized testing (such as IQ tests, personality questionnaires, or measures of symptoms), a review of historical records (like medical or school records), and a highly structured interview. Once the final report is written, the process is complete.
Therapy: Confidentiality is highly protected. What you say to your therapist stays between the two of you, with very few legal exceptions (such as if you are an immediate danger to yourself or someone else).
Evaluation: Confidentiality is limited.
- In psychological evaluation, the results are typically shared with the referring doctor, school, or agency.
- In a forensic evaluation, there is generally no confidentiality regarding the referral questions. The final report is sent directly to a third party, such as a judge, a lawyer, or an insurance company, to be used as evidence in a legal matter.
The difference between a clinical evaluation and a forensic evaluation is the purpose of the evaluation and the intended audience for the report. Clinical evaluations provide treatment recommendations for you, while forensic evaluations assess your mental state for legal and court purposes.
Clinical Evaluation
A clinical evaluation is a clinical resource for your healing and treatment. The final report will list your symptoms, provide an accurate diagnosis, and offer the best therapeutic recommendations for your ongoing recovery.
Forensic Evaluation
A forensic evaluation is for legal or court-related purposes. The final report is an objective, comprehensive report documenting your symptoms to be used as evidentiary support for a legal case. The findings may be shared with legal professionals or presented in court by your forensic psychologist.
We will not know the exact amount you are responsible for until one to two insurance claims have been processed due to deductibles, coinsurance, co-pays, and the varying coverage of different plans. We encourage you to call your insurance company to confirm your benefits. Once the amount you are responsible for has been determined by actual claim data, you will be prompted to pay the balance for your previous sessions. You will then pay your copay or coinsurance for ongoing appointments.
To ensure a smooth and successful virtual telehealth session, please arrange to be in a quiet, private location with a strong internet connection. Please use a computer or tablet rather than a mobile phone for your appointment. Please note that Chromebooks are unable to access the required applications for the session. You will need to have access to Zoom for your appointment. If you are using a computer, you can either access Zoom through your web browser or download the Zoom Workplace application. Please note, if you are using a computer, the application will require a stronger internet connection, and if you are using a tablet, the application will need to be downloaded. You cannot use a tablet for an evaluation appointment. Exactly one hour before your session, you will receive an email from [email protected]. If you have an outstanding balance or a copay, this email will contain a secure payment link where you can enter your credit card information. Once the balance is settled, or if you do not have a balance, you will receive your meeting link. Please do not reply to the notification email, as it is unmonitored. If you experience any issues with either your payment link or meeting link, please call the office directly at (770) 919-9088 for further assistance.
If your appointment is for a forensic evaluation that is court related, please come prepared with any relevant court documents. Outside of this, intake forms need to be filled out twenty-four hours ahead of the evaluation appointment.
Evaluations consist of an interview and a testing portion, which includes questionnaires and electronic tests. Depending on your specific case and the type of evaluation, the required assessments, and your individual test-taking pace, the process can take anywhere from two to eight hours. Forensic evaluations for court related matters are usually longer than clinical evaluations for treatment purposes. If the testing is long or extensive, you always have the option to take a break or complete the testing on a different day.
Final evaluation reports usually take two to four weeks to complete, however, depending on they type of evaluation. In some cases, reports cannot be completed until all the requested records have been received. Please call our office directly at (770) 919-9088 if you would like a status update on an evaluation or to request the report.
We do not provide medication management and do not have psychiatrists on staff. However, our clinicians can readily consult with external psychiatrists to support and coordinate your therapy.
We kindly ask that you inform our administrative team or your clinician at least 24 hours in advance if you need to cancel an appointment. Any sessions missed or cancelled without 24 hours' notice will incur a $55 fee. Please note that this fee may be waived in certain extenuating circumstances.
We accept Blue Cross Blue Shield for ADHD evaluations. We only accept private pay for all other evaluatios.
We have one physical office which is located at 698 North Marietta Parkway, Marietta, GA 30060. If you are unable to commute to the office for an appointment, please call the office to discuss telehealth options and virtual availabilities.