Why should I chose Dr. Busch for my Pre-Adoption Psychological Evaluation?
Dr. Busch is highly-regarded for her expertise in international adoption. She began doing pre-adoptive parent evaluations since her own adoption in 2005 and is among the most experienced psychologists in the country in testing and evaluating prospective adoptive parents. As an adoptive parent herself, Dr. Busch understands the complexities of paperwork requirements for International Adoption dossiers. She also understands the stress adoptive families experience with ever-changing legal and paperwork requirements.
When choosing Dr. Busch for your adoption psychological evaluation and testing, you are choosing an adoption professional who is also an expert in parent-child attachment and adoptive parenting. She understands that test results alone should not be used to determine whether a parent should adopt. This is why she requires adoptive parents to complete paperwork about their motivation to adopt, personal history and understanding of adoptive family parenting. It also allows Dr. Busch to interpret test results in the context of your life history and personal adoption journey rather than simply relying on computerized test results. Every psychologist should understand that the tests required for adoption were not designed to evaluate adoptive parents. Therefore, recommendations based on test results alone can be unreliable, invalid or misleading. A psychologist is likely not qualified to do psychological evaluations for adoption unless he or she has specialized training, education, experience and a deep cross-cultural understanding of the complexities of international adoption.
Dr. Busch takes all this into account in your adoption evaluation while also having the advantage of having gone through the evaluation process herself. She strives to make the testing and evaluation process as stress-free and informative as possible. It may seem hard to believe, but most families report enjoying the interview in which they receive their test results directly. The results and conclusions of your adoption psychological evaluation are of the utmost importance in your adoption; but the evaluation process itself can be made as convenient, private and stress-free as possible while still getting the job done properly.
When choosing Dr. Busch for your adoption psychological evaluation and testing, you are choosing an adoption professional who is also an expert in parent-child attachment and adoptive parenting. She understands that test results alone should not be used to determine whether a parent should adopt. This is why she requires adoptive parents to complete paperwork about their motivation to adopt, personal history and understanding of adoptive family parenting. It also allows Dr. Busch to interpret test results in the context of your life history and personal adoption journey rather than simply relying on computerized test results. Every psychologist should understand that the tests required for adoption were not designed to evaluate adoptive parents. Therefore, recommendations based on test results alone can be unreliable, invalid or misleading. A psychologist is likely not qualified to do psychological evaluations for adoption unless he or she has specialized training, education, experience and a deep cross-cultural understanding of the complexities of international adoption.
Dr. Busch takes all this into account in your adoption evaluation while also having the advantage of having gone through the evaluation process herself. She strives to make the testing and evaluation process as stress-free and informative as possible. It may seem hard to believe, but most families report enjoying the interview in which they receive their test results directly. The results and conclusions of your adoption psychological evaluation are of the utmost importance in your adoption; but the evaluation process itself can be made as convenient, private and stress-free as possible while still getting the job done properly.
THIS is the Advantage in Choosing Dr. Busch for your Psychological Testing and Adoption Evaluation
Where does my evaluation take place? Is it alright that Dr. Busch is not located in my state?
Many people adopting seek out of state specialists or agencies to assist in international adoption. Dr. Busch evaluates and tests prospective adoptive parents in the privacy of home at convenient times, though you are certainly welcome to visit her at her NJ office if you live nearby. She is a pioneer in the use of the most sophisticated Tele-health services including HIPAA secure encrypted on-line testing and live face:face audio/visual conferencing using a simple secure Telehealth program approved for use in health care (not just Skype, Facetime or Zoom). Your evaluation can be done from the privacy of home regardless of where you live in the U.S. or internationally. All reports state that the adoptive parents were evaluated in a live face-to-face interview(s). After your adoption is complete and your child is home, all families are offered a FREE one-time follow-up consultation once to help in the adjustment.
When It Needs to Be Done Right
Dr. Busch has completed over 500 evaluations for International Adoption for countries throughout the world and has close professional relationships with many agencies. Her evaluations comply with agency and country requirements including notarization, notarized doctor's license and apostilles when required. Dr. Busch provides a wide range of evaluation services to adoptive families, depending on the country and agency requirements. She understands all the necessary details, such as getting documents notarized and apostilled, including her doctor's license with every report, and the format and wording required by international courts and adoption agencies. Second opinions of testing and evaluation results are also provided.
Although adoptive families may be told they "need to take an MMPI-2" or other test but what is really required is a psychological evaluation that includes an interview and one or more standardized tests. Most countries and agencies require a lengthy, detailed complete written report including sections about each parent individually, as a couple and their family life. Dr. Busch's adoption evaluations include an interview, review of your homestudy if available as well as psychological testing when required such as the MMPI-3, MCMI-IV, the 16 PF, PAI, CAPI, or other tests as needed. This helps Dr. Busch take into consideration your family's unique circumstances when interpreting test results so it is not just a pass-fail evaluation Dr. Busch strives to make every evaluation as stress-free and informative as possible.
Your evaluation also provides an opportunity to consult with an attachment and adoption expert about important issues such as the initial adjustment home, bonding and attachment, parenting an adopted child and what to expect in the future. All families evaluated by Dr. Busch are offered a FREE confidential follow-up consultation once your child or children come home to help with the transtion, problem-solve, and cope with any issues which may arise.
Your evaluation also provides an opportunity to consult with an attachment and adoption expert about important issues such as the initial adjustment home, bonding and attachment, parenting an adopted child and what to expect in the future. All families evaluated by Dr. Busch are offered a FREE confidential follow-up consultation once your child or children come home to help with the transtion, problem-solve, and cope with any issues which may arise.
Will Dr. Busch follow the guidelines for how to write the report my agency provides?
Dr. Busch is always willing to work with you and your agency to make your adoption dreams come true. If given a sample report or any guidelines such as which tests and information is required, please provide that as soon as possible. Please be aware that the guidelines or sample report given by your agency may already be one of Dr. Busch's reports or some slight variation of her work. The sample reports are meant to help less experienced psychologists who are unfamiliar with international adoption evaluation requirements. When working with Dr. Busch, you have chosen an experienced adoption professional who already routinely provides a copy of her Dr's license, is always willing to have you or your agency proofread or review a report before a final copy is sent, has access to notaries day and night (even weekends), and understands terms like ""certification" and "apostille" because she has obtained hundreds of apostilles already!
How much will my evaluation cost?
The cost of your adoption psychological evaluation is a major concern for many families and there is no single simple answer. In some cases, families learn they need the evaluation or testing at the last minute, shortly before travel, in between trips, or after a difficult delay in the international process. Dr. Busch understands the financial burden the evaluation can cause, especially when it was unanticipated. As an adoptive parent herself, she learned that she needed an evaluation in between 2 trips to Russia.
There are many variables which impact how much your evaluation will cost. Some countries require only an interview with the parents. Others require testing with the MMPI-3 or MMPI-2RF. Some require multiple tests such as the MMPI-3, MCMI-IV, 16PF or CAPI. Every agency and country has its own set of rules and requirements for the length of reports and how many reports are required, which also impacts the cost. Dr. Busch provides 2 copies of her reports and 2 copies of her Dr's license with every report. These will be notarized if required. If apostilles are needed, you can send the reports for apostilles yourself or Dr. Busch can arrange for all the documentation required as part of your evaluation package.
Due to all these variables, the cost of your evaluation is not immediately known. A report for a single parent may be 3-4 pages, for a couple it is usually closer to 6 pages. Most adoption evaluations for couples including everything including notarization, express mail, testing, report with dr's license, etc range from $1250-$1950, though there are exceptions such as when only a single page letter with no testing is required. Sometimes the cost may be higher if there are special circumstances with additional testing needed or other adults living in the home also need to be evaluated. Discounts are offered for special needs and older child adoption so be sure to mention these situations when requesting information.
There are many variables which impact how much your evaluation will cost. Some countries require only an interview with the parents. Others require testing with the MMPI-3 or MMPI-2RF. Some require multiple tests such as the MMPI-3, MCMI-IV, 16PF or CAPI. Every agency and country has its own set of rules and requirements for the length of reports and how many reports are required, which also impacts the cost. Dr. Busch provides 2 copies of her reports and 2 copies of her Dr's license with every report. These will be notarized if required. If apostilles are needed, you can send the reports for apostilles yourself or Dr. Busch can arrange for all the documentation required as part of your evaluation package.
Due to all these variables, the cost of your evaluation is not immediately known. A report for a single parent may be 3-4 pages, for a couple it is usually closer to 6 pages. Most adoption evaluations for couples including everything including notarization, express mail, testing, report with dr's license, etc range from $1250-$1950, though there are exceptions such as when only a single page letter with no testing is required. Sometimes the cost may be higher if there are special circumstances with additional testing needed or other adults living in the home also need to be evaluated. Discounts are offered for special needs and older child adoption so be sure to mention these situations when requesting information.
To obtain an accurate estimate of your cost, please EMAIL DR. BUSCH at LBshrink@drlindabusch.com with the name of the country you are adopting from. You will then receive information explaining EVERYTHING you need for your testing and evaluation including an explanation of fees.
Dr. Busch understands you want this part of your dossier done quickly.
White Glove-Expedited service is available!