Understanding what is driving depression, not just naming it, is what makes an evaluation worth doing. Core Spring's Cedarburg evaluations get to the underlying causes, for children, teens, and adults. You can reach out directly, no referral needed.
We build an in-depth understanding of emotional functioning, the low mood, irritability, fatigue, hopelessness, lost motivation, and the sleep and appetite changes, and at how depression affects school, work, and daily life. Because it rarely appears on its own, this work is often explored within a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation. Because depression rarely appears on its own, these concerns are most often explored as part of a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation, giving Cedarburg families a full and accurate picture.
A child might turn irritable or quiet, lose energy and interest, or change in sleep, appetite, or schoolwork.
A teen might feel a deep, persistent sadness, lose motivation and focus, or withdraw from the people and activities they once enjoyed.
An adult might carry chronic low mood, fatigue, and burnout, and find work, relationships, and routines harder to manage.
Your evaluation begins with a one-hour clinical interview where your psychologist gathers a thorough history, from early experiences through your current mood, energy, and daily functioning. This conversation helps distinguish depression from other conditions that can present similarly and determines which assessments will provide the most accurate diagnosis.
Your psychologist selects a personalized battery of mood and psychological assessments. Testing involves 2 to 6 hours of in-person evaluation over one to two days. You will also be sent home with self-report questionnaires, and someone close to you can complete their own questionnaire if they choose. If your psychologist identifies signs of other conditions (such as anxiety, ADHD, or bipolar disorder), those areas are screened for as well.
All testing data, clinical observations, and questionnaire results are compiled into a detailed diagnostic report. Differential diagnosis is a key component: your psychologist carefully evaluates whether symptoms are best explained by depression, another condition, or a combination. Any co-occurring conditions are fully documented.
Approximately two to three weeks after testing, you return for a feedback session. Your psychologist walks through the diagnosis and provides individualized recommendations: evidence-based therapy options, lifestyle strategies, medication guidance if applicable, and next steps tailored to your specific needs.
The clinical interview is the backbone of every evaluation and is structured to capture depression in its full developmental and personal context. The psychologist explores when symptoms began, what has triggered or sustained them, what has been tried, and how depression has shaped functioning across different life domains. This contextual approach produces a clinical picture that is far more meaningful than a symptom score alone.
Yes. Trauma-related conditions frequently present with prominent depressive symptoms and can be mistaken for primary depression. The clinical interview at Core Spring Diagnostics specifically explores trauma history, and the comorbidity screening includes trauma-specific assessment tools. When trauma appears to be driving or significantly contributing to depressive symptoms, the findings and recommendations reflect that, and a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation may be recommended to address the full picture.
Yes. Social withdrawal, relational difficulties, and reduced emotional availability are common features of depression, and the clinical interview addresses these directly. The functional impact section of the written report covers how depression is affecting interpersonal relationships alongside work, daily routines, and cognitive functioning. Recommendations may include relational therapy approaches when this is a prominent area of concern.
A general psychological evaluation casts a wide net across personality, cognition, and behavior. A depression evaluation at Core Spring Diagnostics is focused on understanding the nature, severity, and causes of depressive symptoms and the conditions that may be sustaining them. The scope is intentionally targeted while still including a cognitive baseline and comorbidity screening, making it thorough without being unnecessarily broad.
The evaluation typically involves a clinical interview session and one or more testing sessions, with report preparation following the completion of testing. Total time from the first appointment to the feedback session varies depending on scheduling and evaluation scope. If the psychologist recommends expanding to a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation, additional sessions may be needed. Timeline expectations are discussed at the start of the process.
Yes. Core Spring Diagnostics serves clients from Cedarburg and the surrounding Ozaukee County area seeking depression evaluations. One psychologist manages every aspect of the process, from the clinical interview through the final feedback session and written report.
"*" indicates required fields
Thank you for sending us your information. We’ve received your details and will be in touch soon.
