Clinical Evaluation for a College Leave or Return

A clinical evaluation helps a student and family decide whether a leave of absence makes sense, what treatment should happen during it, and when the student is ready to go back. Blackburn Clinical Services in Los Angeles provides assessments, therapy in our office or by secure video for clients located in California, psychiatric evaluation and medication management, and ADHD and neuropsychological testing for college students considering or on a leave, and for students preparing to return. Each school sets its own leave and return process. Call (888) 870 7405 or email info@blackburnclinical.com.

At a glance

Who this is for: undergraduate and graduate students thinking about a medical or personal leave, students already home on leave, and students planning to return to campus.
What we provide: a clinical assessment, ongoing therapy, psychiatric evaluation and medication management, and ADHD testing and neuropsychological testing when attention or learning questions are part of the picture.
Where: Therapy takes place in our office at 12326 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066, in Mar Vista near Culver City, Venice and Santa Monica, or by secure video for clients located in California.
Psychiatry: Psychiatric evaluation and medication management are provided by our board certified psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners. When you call, we explain how psychiatry appointments are arranged.
Fees: We are an out-of-network practice and provide superbills. See Fees and Insurance.
Information sharing: anything we share with a school or family member happens only with the student’s written permission.

When a leave might be worth considering

A leave is not a failure. For some students it is the step that keeps a hard term from turning into a transcript full of failing grades, or that makes room for treatment that cannot happen alongside a full course load. Situations where families often talk about a leave include depression or anxiety that has made it impossible to attend or complete work, a first episode of mania or psychosis, a substance use problem that needs focused treatment, a crisis or hospitalization, or a trauma or loss. Other students do better staying enrolled with more support, a reduced load or accommodations. An evaluation helps sort out which path fits.

What an evaluation looks at

What is going on. Symptoms, how long they have lasted, sleep, substance use, safety, and what has been tried.
What treatment is needed. Therapy, psychiatric care, a more intensive level of outpatient support such as our Concierge Outpatient Program, or a higher level of care elsewhere if needed.
Attention and learning. If concentration or learning problems are part of why school fell apart, testing can clarify it. Neuropsychological testing includes recommendations for school.
Readiness to return. For students coming back, how stable symptoms are, whether routines like sleep and attendance are holding at home, and what support will be in place on campus.

What schools often ask for

Leave and readmission rules differ by school and even by program, so start by reading your school’s policy or talking with the dean of students office. Many schools ask for some information from a treating provider when a student requests a medical leave or a return. When clinically appropriate, and with the student’s written permission, we can provide letters or documentation for a leave or a return. We cannot promise that a school will approve a leave or a return; that decision belongs to the school.

If the student needs accommodations after returning, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights explains that college students must identify themselves to the school’s disability services office and request accommodations, and that schools may set reasonable standards for documentation. A high school IEP or 504 plan may not be enough, and a new evaluation may be needed. Testing at our office can be part of that, though the school decides what accommodations it grants.

Making the most of a leave

Start treatment early. The months of a leave go quickly. Starting care in the first weeks gives time to see real change before a return decision.
Build a daily structure. Regular sleep, movement, some work, volunteering or a class, and time with people. Students who want help with structure and follow-through can also look at Blackburn Mentoring, a sister organization that offers mentoring.
Plan the handoff. Before returning, line up care near campus, often starting with the campus counseling center, so treatment continues.
Include family thoughtfully. Parents can be part of planning when the student agrees. Parents can find guidance in help for parents of a struggling college student.

For a broader overview of care for students who live or study in Los Angeles, see therapy and psychiatry for college students. School and college counselors who want to refer a student can see for school and college counselors.

Questions

Will you write a letter saying my student needs a leave?

When clinically appropriate, yes. After an evaluation, and with the student’s written permission, we can provide a letter or documentation for a leave or a return. The school makes its own decision.

Can my student be seen in Los Angeles while on leave from a school in another state?

Yes. Students living in or staying in Los Angeles can be seen for therapy in our office or by secure video for clients located in California, and for psychiatric care during a leave.

How long before a return should we start treatment?

As early in the leave as possible, so there is time to see how treatment is working before a return decision.

Does testing guarantee accommodations when my student goes back?

No. Testing can describe a student’s strengths and needs and include recommendations for school, but the college’s disability services office decides what accommodations it grants.

Who decides whether my adult student takes a leave?

The student and the school. Parents can be part of the conversation, and clinicians can help everyone weigh the options, but a student 18 or older makes their own treatment decisions.

Get started

Call (888) 870 7405 (Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM), email info@blackburnclinical.com or contact us. Blackburn Clinical Services is at 12326 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066.

If you or someone you love is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or call 911 in an emergency.

Getting a Clinical Evaluation for a College Leave of Absence or Return