Central Arkansas Testing & Therapy

“It honestly feels harsh saying this, but my visit here felt borderline unprofessional. I've been through the psychiatric gamut, and have never had a mental health professional seem so entirely bored and uninterested. I genuinely felt like I was wasting his time. I left feeling unheard and not taken seriously whatsoever. I'm not going to criticize his level of knowledge or skill because I can't accurately speak on those. However, based on what was displayed to me, they were either areas he was lacking in, or secrets he kept to himself. I asked for an elaboration on schizoaffective disorder vs schizophrenia and he literally googled it in front of me and read off the search results. My testimony of my own experiences was barely asked about, and seemed to play absolutely 0 factor in the report I received. I paid handsomely to have someone do no more than read off a questionnaire, fill in my answers for me, and give me a report. With typos in it. Mental health treatment is entirely too important and expensive to conduct with the air of a chore you're being forced to undertake. I'm only leaving this review because I had honestly convinced myself that this was just my perception and I was being dramatic over feeling unsatisfied with my results. I happened to look at these reviews and have seen my own experience laid out exactly by several others. If the issues you're struggling with extend beyond basic depression and anxiety I would highly recommend avoiding this place.”

“Exceptional! It's difficult enough to find psychological testing options in the state of Arkansas as it is so the fact that Central Arkansas Testing and Therapy Center exists is beyond amazing. Caring, professional, and individualized services offered in a convenient, comfy environment. Always helpful, attentive, and willing to answer any questions and/or concerns you might have. Thankful for this amazing resource. I've referred a lot of my clients here and have received nothing, but positive feedback. Overall, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”

“Highly recommended to not to go here. Save your time and money by going somewhere where you will actually get the testing and therapy you deserve. With this place you can definitely feel the quality of the sessions/visits does not hold up to par. Very quick to grab your money from the bank EVEN BEFORE you show up for your appointment and will also not work with you on payments even when you bring cash in. This place obviously does not care about the people that come in the door, just only after your "digital currency" since they refuse legal federal notes for the appointments. Definitely going somewhere else that actually knows what true therapy and testing really is, and that will actually spend the necessary time with their patients in a real size rooms and not in broom closet size rooms that makes you play twister just to have a seat in the corner.”

“This is NOT a neuroaffirming clinic. This is evident if you look through the Google business photos & note that the first photos of the interior were posted by me long after they had been open. Unfamiliar places are anxiety-provoking for many neurodiverse people & providing photos so they know what they are getting into ahead of time is one of the most basic things a clinic can do to make their neurodiverse clients feel safe & comfortable. Before I share more about my experience, I want to point out that each time a negative review is posted, several positive reviews immediately follow it. However, you'll notice that many of the positive reviews are not from their clients who have gone through the diagnostic process but from their colleagues who recommend their services. Given the timing & repeated pattern, these people were likely solicited by the clinic for positive reviews following each negative one. CAT was recommended to me by one of these people, so PLEASE listen to those of us who are sharing our personal experiences receiving services as patients at this clinic. Any clinic that intentionally drowns out those brave enough to publicly share their experience is not likely one you or your child will feel safe at. My assessment was performed in an undecorated closet with no windows that was only as wide as the loveseat & slightly longer than the table inside it. The walls in the clinic are so thin that even with the white noise machine, I could hear every word said in the session next door as if I was in the room myself. There were no fidget toys so I brought my own but was asked to put them away in a tone that made me feel ashamed & silly for bringing them. When I shared my personal fears about the diagnostic process due to the limited research on adult women for the diagnosis I was being tested for, Mary responded defensively & in such a way that made me feel invalidated & looked down upon. This feeling was repeatedly reaffirmed throughout my time with her, specifically with her impatience/annoyance when I asked clarifying questions. Sadly, my fears were confirmed when she wrote the assessment from the outdated mindset that neurodivergent people aren’t reliable narrators of their own experience. She seemed to be going exactly by the book largely basing her assessment on her own observations. For example, without asking me about it, she noted no stimming was observed. What she couldn't see though was that I was stimming with my toes throughout the entire session, which is how I stim around new people. She also stated I made normal eye contact and dismissed my concerns about the effort it takes for me to maintain normal eye contact, saying it didn’t matter because masking isn’t a diagnostic criteria. And while that is true, it doesn’t negate the fact that masking hides the superficial behaviors she was looking for. A skilled and neauroaffirming evaluator would know the right questions to ask to understand what’s going on beneath the surface. I will echo what other negative client reviews have shared which is that the diagnosis I received was harmful. It completely shattered any confidence I had that I knew myself & could recognize my own strengths and weakness’s. After seeking a second opinion, I was informed that the evidence outlined in her assessment do not align with her diagnosis. I’m still working to regain my confidence though. I have debated for a year on whether or not to leave a review. My public Google review history shows I rarely leave negative reviews & doing this means publicly documenting that I sought diagnostic services which I’d prefer to keep private. However, after seeing that others have had similar experiences, & the clinic has tried to drown them out, I felt it was important to share my story. I don’t recommend this clinic to others seeking an informed, respectful, & neurodiversity-affirming evaluation. My heart goes out to anyone else who has been negatively affected by their experience with Central Arkansas Testing. Trust your gut. You are not alone.”