Today we’d like to introduce you to Eleonora Bass.
Hi Eleonora, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Behavioral Evaluation Services of Texas (BEST) was created out of a need to do help others feel their best by doing what we do best. This means, the best psychological services for patients and the best place to work for clinicians and staff. In today’s society, mental health is being discussed more than ever; however, it can still be quite difficult to navigate. With the internet full of “tests,” “screeners,” and vast amounts of information regarding various symptoms and diagnoses, it can lead you to believe that you have an undiagnosed neurological disorder such as ADHD or Autism, to more severe mental illnesses like Bipolar Disorder or Schizophrenia. Just as McKinney is “Unique by Nature,” so are our patients, and we strive to honor that in our approach, assessment process, and customized treatment planning.
I’ve always loved combining travel, learning languages (I speak Russian Spanish, and Italian), and learning about other cultures with psychology education, so after working in the US and abroad, and across multiple settings and populations of all ages, I’ve found my home in my own private practice which gives me the freedom and control to turn it into what I want it to be. In terms of working with patients, that means that the special microcosm of each person is carefully considered during this evaluation process and beyond.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
A common challenge of doing this work is individuals having pre-conceived notions of diagnoses. Access to social media has increased information and education but not all the information out there is accurate and not all “tests” out there, especially those available to the public for free, are statistically and clinically rigorous enough to substantiate a diagnosis. It is not easy to talk about results of the testing evaluation when an individual has already completed 6 or 7 tests online that gave them a particular diagnosis and their expectation for our evaluation is that same diagnosis, but the results do not support it. Some individuals will have already joined support groups in preparation for the diagnosis the online tests revealed to them and have formed their reality around this diagnosis, so it can be very jarring to hear from us that something else is going on, and not what they have come to believe. Though challenging, we take extra time and care to educate patients about the overlapping nature of symptoms and carefully walk them through the testing results to show them support for the final, and sometimes unexpected, diagnosis. Validating experiences of symptoms is helpful but ultimately, from a solution-focused perspective, the relief comes from having a concrete plan of action through recommendations which allows for a step-by-step guide to feeling better and building upon their strengths in the process.
As you know, we’re big fans of Behavioral Evaluation Services of Texas. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Not all evaluations are equal. Rather than focused and narrow assessments, we offer comprehensive psychological evaluations starting as young as 2-years old to 65-years old. Because many symptoms overlap across various diagnoses, it can be tricky to pinpoint which symptoms are coming from which diagnosis. Our comprehensive evaluation process involves self-report questionnaires, other report questionnaires, hands-on tests of abilities, objective tests, and projective tests, as well as tests that compare symptom development across different time frames, conscious vs. subconscious distress, and validity checks throughout. Throughout the whole process, from the first point of contact, we strive to love on our patients with patience and offering comfort by helping them navigate the confusing and overwhelming world of mental health with knowledge and understanding.
We are skilled at evaluating, diagnosing, creating a treatment plan for, and treating the following diagnoses and struggles: anxiety, depression, PTSD, ADHD, ASD, learning disabilities, personality disorders, Bipolar Disorder, Adjustment Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and LGBTQ+ and Gender Dysphoria.
Our mission at BEST is to help you easily navigate this confusing world of mental health. We want to empower people with knowledge so they can use their natural strengths to help overcome areas of challenge. Life is stressful and comes with endless challenges on a daily basis; it can be hard to manage it all. Let us take some stressors off your plate and create a treatment plan just for you based on how you process information, using your strengths. Once the evaluation is complete, we are happy to stay in touch as a resource and to help brainstorm or consult on progress.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Our clinicians and psychometrists are amazing and truly embody the spirit and mission at BEST. Our office manager, scheduler, and biller deserve a major shout out to smooth operations for patients and clinicians; they are truly an amazing, cohesive, efficient, positive team that loves on our patients and clinicians, making sure that anyone that reaches out to our office is not suffering in silence.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bestmckinney.com
