Today we’d like to introduce you to Chrishawn Finister.
Hi Chrishawn, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When I started as a psychology major with a minor in education at Xavier University of Louisiana in the early 2000s, I knew I wanted to work in education—but I also knew I didn’t want to be a classroom teacher. The turning point came during a lecture when one of my professors said: “Doctors may write prescriptions, but they need psychologists to do the assessments.” That moment sparked something in me and led me to explore the field of school psychology.
After graduation, I spent a year teaching English conversation in Japan. I loved supporting my students, but again realized that teaching wasn’t the path I wanted to commit to. When I returned to the United States, I began researching graduate programs in school psychology. Wanting to be near my then-boyfriend—now husband—I applied and was accepted into the School Psychology Specialist program at Texas Woman’s University in Denton.
It’s important to note that school psychologists hold more than a master’s degree. Our three-year graduate training prepares us to assess and identify neurodiverse needs such as autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, anxiety, and depression. We help students not only understand their challenges but also access specialized supports within schools.
After completing my yearlong internship, I began working as a school psychologist in a large district in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. I spent more than a decade in that role, but over time, I felt a desire to grow professionally and extend my impact beyond schools. A colleague encouraged me to consider private practice, which opened up an entirely new path.
The transition wasn’t easy. I had to pass a rigorous licensing exam and complete two years of clinical supervision outside the school setting before becoming independently licensed in Texas. But in June 2024, I officially launched Your Joy Psychological Assessments, PLLC. My practice provides comprehensive evaluations for individuals ages 2 to 99, helping identify neurodiversity and mental health needs.
The demand was immediate and overwhelming. While many families sought my services, too many were unable to afford out-of-pocket costs or lacked insurance coverage. I couldn’t ignore the gap. So in January 2025, I launched The Texas Psychological Hive, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free psychological evaluations for those in need. These assessments often serve as the key to unlocking community resources, academic supports, and even access to healthcare.
My journey—from Xavier to Japan, from schools to private practice, and now to nonprofit leadership—has been guided by one constant: a passion for helping others discover their strengths and access the support they need to thrive.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth transition. I’ve always believed that the body follows the mind, and at first, it was difficult for me to even imagine a career outside the public school system. For so long, I felt my calling was to be a public servant, and shifting away from that role took time. Eventually, I realized that I could still serve the same community—perhaps even more people in the community—just in a different setting with my skill set.
Even after opening my mind to the possibilities, I still had to overcome fear. Would I fail? Would I be financially secure? Would anyone trust me enough to complete their evaluation? Graduate school had prepared me to work within a system, but entrepreneurship came with a completely different set of challenges that, at first, felt overwhelming.
And then there was the EPPP licensing exam—a hurdle that every psychologist must clear before practicing independently. It’s often compared to the Bar exam for lawyers, and for good reason. It was grueling, expensive, and stressful. But once I passed, I knew the possibilities ahead were endless, and I could finally breathe easier knowing that all the doors I had worked so hard to open were now within reach.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
At Your Joy Psychological Assessments, we provide expert psychological evaluation services for individuals ages 2 through adulthood — children, teens, and adults — with an emphasis on diagnosing neurodiverse conditions and learning differences.
What we do / our specialties?
We offer evaluations for Autism, ADHD, emotional disorders, learning disabilities (including dyslexia), cognitive testing, and other conditions that affect learning and daily functioning.
We perform Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs)—these are assessments done outside of the school’s evaluation process, often at the request of parents, educators, or school systems, for added objectivity and clarity.
Services are available in multiple North Texas locations, including Arlington and Lewisville, and we serve surrounding communities.
What sets us apart?
Comprehensive & age-spanning assessments. We don’t just assess children; adults are welcome too. That matters because adults sometimes go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed earlier in life. Dr. Finister is dual licensed to provide psychoeducational evaluations inside the school and clinical diagnoses in the community. At Your Joy Psychological, we have knowledge of school systems and the medical model.
Specialization in neurodiversity — autism, ADHD, learning differences, emotional concerns — rather than generic mental health only. Our focus is on understanding how individuals learn, think, and function, so we can recommend supports, accommodations, and interventions that make sense.
Also, Your Joy Psychological is home to the ‘Traveling School Psych’. Dr. Finister will travel anywhere in the state of Texas to conduct Independent evaluations — through our IEEs — which gives families and schools additional objective insight, particularly when existing evaluations are insufficient or when parents want a second opinion.
Accessibility and clarity. We provide clear information about our testing process, steps to diagnosis (for autism, learning disabilities, etc.), and fees. We are located in convenient North Texas areas.
What I’m most proud of?
Being able to provide expert, compassionate evaluations that give people clarity about their neurodiversity and learning differences — clarity that can open doors (accessing accommodations, supports, or just understanding oneself better).
The way the practice balances professional rigor with empathy. Families often come in feeling uncertain or overwhelmed; I’m proud of how our services are designed not just to assess, but to support clients through the process.
Our ability to serve a wide age range — from toddlers to seniors — and to do so in a way that makes evaluation understandable, meaningful, and useful.
What I want your readers to know?
If you or someone you love is struggling, whether in school, work, or in daily life, because you suspect something like ADHD, autism, learning differences, or emotional concerns — it’s okay to seek an evaluation. You’re not “just different,” and there are supports and strategies that can help.
We make the process as transparent as possible: from what to expect in the evaluation, to fees, to how results can be used (in schools, for accommodations, or for personal understanding and growth).
Independent educational evaluations (IEEs) are a valuable option if you feel prior assessments don’t fully capture or represent your or your child’s needs.
Access matters: we serve multiple communities in North Texas, and we aim to meet people where they are—age-wise, neurodevelopmentally, and emotionally.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
My Favorite Professional Book resources that help me do my best in life and at work include:
Profit First for Therapists by Julie Herres
Moving Beyond Broke: The Power of Perseverance in Personal Finance by Dasha Kennedy
The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.yourjoypsych.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetexaspsychhive/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572379871416
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/chrishawn-finister-366ba5374
- Other: https://thetexaspsychhive.org/
