Second Opinion Evaluations
Second Opinion Evaluations
Independent Expert Review When You Need It
Second opinion neuropsychological evaluations at Coherence are available for children, adolescents, and adults when families, individuals, schools, healthcare providers, or legal professionals have questions about previous evaluation findings or recommendations. Educational planning, treatment decisions, legal matters, and access to services often rely on the conclusions of a neuropsychological evaluation. When those conclusions do not seem to fit a person’s day-to-day functioning, when recommendations are unclear, or when significant questions remain unanswered, an independent review can provide valuable clinical clarification.
Second opinion evaluations may be conducted by Jennifer Linton Reesman, PhD, ABPP or Korrie Allen, PsyD, ABSNP, depending on the referral question and clinical fit. Each evaluation follows the same careful, evidence-based process used throughout the practice. The purpose is not to confirm or challenge a previous diagnosis for its own sake, but to develop an accurate, objective understanding of the individual’s cognitive, developmental, emotional, or neurological functioning based on the available evidence. The focus remains on providing clear, well-supported conclusions that can guide meaningful next steps.
How we work
Families, clinicians, and legal professionals seek second opinion evaluations at Coherence in a range of situations:
- Prior evaluations from different providers reached conflicting diagnostic conclusions
- A diagnosis was received but doesn’t fully account for what the family observes in daily life
- A school evaluation reached an eligibility conclusion that the family believes is inaccurate
- The prior evaluation feels incomplete, missing a domain relevant to the presenting concerns
- Significant time has passed since the last evaluation and functioning has changed clearly
- Legal or disability documentation requires independent expert neuropsychological review
- Cochlear implant candidacy or another surgical decision requires independent neuropsychological input
- A clinician or school team questions whether the original evaluation used methods appropriate for the population
Our Process
How the Process Works
Second opinion neuropsychological evaluations begin with a detailed review of all available prior documentation. This typically includes previous neuropsychological and psychological evaluations, medical records, school documentation, and any relevant educational plans such as IEPs or 504 plans. The purpose of this review is to understand the scope of earlier assessments, identify areas that may not have been fully addressed, and determine whether additional evaluation would meaningfully contribute to clinical understanding.
Based on this review, a decision is made about the structure of the evaluation, including whether updated or additional testing is needed to clarify the current clinical picture. In many cases, new testing is conducted to fill in gaps, reassess functioning over time, or examine areas that were previously underexplored.
The final report integrates all available sources of information, including prior findings and any new assessment data. Interpretation is provided in a unified framework that explains how different pieces of information fit together, whether or not prior conclusions are confirmed. When appropriate, updated diagnostic impressions are included, along with clearly defined recommendations that can guide educational, therapeutic, medical, or legal decision-making.
Each second opinion evaluation includes a dedicated feedback session to review findings, answer questions, and ensure clarity regarding conclusions and next steps. Reports are typically completed within approximately two weeks following the completion of testing.
Please note that contacting this practice does not establish a patient provider relationship.
adult neuropsychological evaluation
Connecting Evaluation Findings to What Comes Next
An adult neuropsychological evaluation is not an endpoint. It is a clinical foundation for the decisions, supports, and next steps that follow. For adults in the workforce, findings can support documentation for reasonable accommodations, including extended time for professional licensing examinations, adjustments to workplace demands, or formal disability-related considerations when applicable. For adults navigating medical conditions or changes in functioning, evaluation results provide a clear cognitive and functional profile that can assist physicians and other treating specialists in planning care and monitoring change over time.
When authorized by the individual, both clinicians at Coherence, Jennifer Linton Reesman, PhD, ABPP and Korrie Allen, PsyD, ABSNP, coordinate directly with other providers involved in care. Reports are written with practical use in mind across multiple settings, including medical, educational, occupational, and legal contexts when relevant. The goal is for the evaluation to be usable beyond the clinical setting, supporting real-world decisions rather than remaining limited to interpretation within psychology alone.
Request a Second Opinion
Email is the preferred first point of contact. Available background information is reviewed to help determine the most appropriate evaluation approach and clinician fit, with Jennifer Linton Reesman, PhD, ABPP or Korrie Allen, PsyD, ABSNP involved depending on the nature of the referral and scheduling availability.
coherence and Evaluations
A Note on What Second Opinions Are and Are Not
A second opinion evaluation at Coherence is an independent clinical assessment. It is not an advocacy service, and it is not structured to produce a predetermined or preferred conclusion. The purpose is to examine the available information carefully and determine what the clinical evidence supports.
Families, individuals, schools, and professionals who seek a second opinion often do so because prior findings feel incomplete, unclear, or difficult to reconcile with day-to-day functioning. In some cases, there is hope that a new evaluation will produce a different answer than what was previously reported. What is provided instead is a rigorous and unbiased assessment focused solely on clinical accuracy.
Outcomes vary depending on what the evidence shows. In some cases, prior conclusions are confirmed with greater specificity or additional context that helps clarify how they apply in real life. In other cases, the clinical picture is more complex than initially understood, and additional factors are identified that change how the findings should be interpreted. There are also situations in which a prior evaluation is found to be methodologically sound, but the resulting recommendations do not fully align with the individual’s actual functioning or current needs.
Each of these outcomes is clinically meaningful. Regardless of whether findings align with previous evaluations or differ from them, results are communicated clearly, with attention to accuracy, transparency, and practical implications for next steps in care, education, or support planning.