FAQ | Dr. Sarah Crystal

Now booking IQ testing for the 2026-27 private school application season

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Common questions about working with me.

Coaching is structured, time-limited, and focused on a specific area: parenting, a pattern you want to shift, a transition you're working through. It's not a substitute for therapy if therapy is what you need.

Therapy is for more complex emotional or psychological work - anxiety, depression, longer-standing patterns. It's still active and practical in how I work, but the scope is broader. If you're not sure which one you need, a discovery call is the right starting point.
No. When I work with both parents in a parent-coaching context, the focus is on parenting, not on the relationship itself. If you're looking for couples therapy, I'm happy to refer.
No. My work is best suited for people navigating anxiety, depression, stress, parenting challenges, and patterns they want to shift. If you or someone you love is in crisis, please contact 988 or go to your nearest emergency room.
Coaching can happen across state lines. Evaluations and therapy cannot. I'm licensed in Washington, and clinical services can only be provided to Washington residents. If you're outside Washington and looking for coaching, we can work together. For anything else, I'd recommend finding a provider licensed in your state.

All child evaluations begin with a virtual intake. For younger children, the intake is parents only: for teens and young adults, I encourage them to attend.

At intake, we discuss your concerns and goals, confirm the scope of testing, and schedule the testing sessions. For children, testing takes place in my office and ranges from one hour to three-plus hours, sometimes split across two or more sessions. Parents (and teachers, when relevant) complete questionnaires alongside my testing.

After testing is complete, we schedule a virtual feedback session to go through results and recommendations. You'll receive a written report right after that session. To learn more, head to my Evaluations page (linked).
Cognitive functioning, attention, learning, and emotional development overlap significantly. Testing from one lens only (for example, looking at attention without looking at cognitive abilities) can miss factors that affect the full picture. Comprehensive testing lets me rule things in or out that you might not have considered.

That said, IQ testing on its own is the exception. If you only need an IQ score for school admissions, that's a single-session, single-purpose service.

WPPSI-IV for children 5 and under. WISC-V for children 6 and older. WIAT-4 if academic achievement testing is also required. I do not administer the KABC-II. If your school requires it, I'm happy to refer you to a provider who does.
There's nothing to prepare. IQ tests aren't designed to be studied for. What helps: a good night's sleep and a meal beforehand, so they aren't tired or hungry going in.
Your child will sit with me at a table and work through a series of activities: answering questions, looking at pictures, working with blocks. Most kids find it more like a puzzle session than a test.
Generally, no. I ask parents to wait in the lobby to minimize distractions. If your child can't separate (some can't, and that's fine), you can stay in the room out of view, and I'll ask you to stay quiet. I don't allow audio or video recording during testing under any circumstance.
For IQ testing for private school applications: report is ready within two business days of testing. For comprehensive evaluations: you will receive the report via email immediately following the feedback session.

I offer therapy and coaching for parents navigating anxiety, depression, stress, parenting challenges, and patterns that aren't shifting. My work is active, practical, and focused on real change.
No. All services are paid out of pocket. After our work together, I provide a superbill you can submit to your insurance company. Depending on your plan, they may reimburse a portion of out-of-network services. I encourage you to call your insurance provider before we start to ask about your out-of-network benefits.
In-person testing for children only happens at 221 1st Ave W, Seattle, WA 98199 (Lower Queen Anne). All my other services, coaching, therapy, consultations, adult ADHD evaluations are held via Zoom. I work with families and adults across Washington State for evaluations and therapy. I work with parents nationwide for coaching.
All evaluations, and coaching and therapy packages are paid in full before we begin. Once payment is received, your session times are reserved exclusively for you.

If you need to cancel or reschedule a session, please let me know as soon as you can. Even same-day notice is appreciated. I will always do my best to find another time that same week if my schedule allows.

If we aren't able to reschedule within that week, no problem - we'll simply add the remaining session(s) to the end of your coaching package so you don't lose them.

If you miss a session without notifying me (a no-show), that session will be forfeited, as the time was reserved specifically for you and cannot typically be filled on short notice.