Mission Statement:

At Mark Besen Ph.D. Psychological Services, we strive to provide high quality, comprehensive, psychological and neuropsychological evaluations to assist individuals and their families to obtain the most appropriate and effective treatment services. We work collaboratively with healthcare providers, educational professionals, social service and other agencies to ensure excellent coordination of care on behalf of the individuals we serve.

Meet the Team

Mark Besen, Ph.D.

Dr. Besen is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University.
He is a licensed clinical psychologist with over 34 years post licensure experience in
hospital/medical, community behavioral health and private practice settings. He has
held clinical and administrative leadership roles in large behavioral health organizations
and has been a national speaker in suicide prevention and intervention. Dr. Besen
currently specializes in providing psychological and neuropsychological testing for
children, adolescents, adults and seniors.

Jessica Coplin, LPN,

Nurse Administrator

Jessica Coplin is a graduate of Peace College and ECPI University with a licensed practical nursing degree. Mrs. Coplin has 10 years of nursing experience in Eastern North Carolina and Atlanta, GA, with management and supervising background for the past 7 years. She currently performs psychological testing administration as a technician and assumes administrative responsibilities for the practice.

Kyndall Joplin, PMHNP

Kyndall Joplin graduated from East Carolina University's School of Nursing in 2009. She spent ten years working as a nurse before returning to school to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner. She provides thoughtful, individualized mental health care and medication management for both children and adults.

Kyndall is pleased to be an in-network provider for Blue Cross Blue Shield, Trillium, Healthy Blue, and Tricare.

Michaela Fox, LPA, BCBA, NCSP

Michaela "Mickey"Fox is a graduate of Western Michigan University and the University of Detroit Mercy. She has worked as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist for six years as well as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in addition to her work as a licensed psychological associate. Mickey specializes in evaluating children with neurodevelopmental disorders including Autism Spectrum Disorder as well as other psychiatric disorders.

Mickey specializes in providing psychological testing for ages six through fourteen.

Mollie Mayse, LPA, NCSP

Mollie Mayse is a graduate of Appalachian State University. She is a licensed psychological associate and has 17 years of experience working as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist with the North Carolina public school system.

Mollie specializes in providing psychological testing for children ages six through fourteen.

Erica Elliott, MA, NCC, LCMHC

Erica Elliott is a graduate of Clemson University and The University of Alabama. She is a licensed clinical mental health counselor (LCMHC). Erica has six years post-licensure experience working in the community behavioral health and private practice settings. She currently provides telehealth individual therapy services for adults (ages 18 and up).

Erica is pleased to be an in-network provider with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, United Healthcare, Aetna, and Trillium. Self-pay rates are also available.

Sydney Cain, LCMHCA, LCASA

Sydney Cain is a graduate of Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts. She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (LCMHCA) and a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist Associate (LCASA). Sydney has experience in treating patients with diagnoses including neurodevelopmental disorders (autism spectrum disorder and ADHD) depressive and anxiety disorders and co-occurring substance use disorders. Sydney provides individual therapy using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, and Person-Centered Therapy.

Sydney is pleased to be an in-network provider with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, UHC Medicaid, Healthy Blue, and Trillium. Self-pay rates are also available.

Rachel Brown, LCSW, LCAS

Rachel Brown received her Master of Social Work degree from East Carolina University and is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) as well as a licensed clinical addiction specialist (LCAS). Rachel has experience in treating patients with a wide range of diagnoses, including schizophrenia, personality disorders, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, military-related PTSD, and substance abuse.

Rachel utilizes Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She offers therapy services to individuals ages 6 and up, couples and families.

Rachel is pleased to be an in-network provider with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medcost, United Healthcare, Tricare, Healthy Blue, UHC Medicaid, and Trillium. Self-pay rates are also available.

Cortlin Polo, MSW, LCSW

Cortlin Polo graduated from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte and is a
Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She has been practicing in outpatient behavioral
health, residential, and primary health hospital settings for over six years. Cortlin has
experience in treating patients with diagnoses including neurodevelopmental disorders
(autism spectrum disorder and ADHD) depressive and anxiety disorders and co-occurring substance use disorders. Cortlin provides individual therapy using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Person-Centered Therapy and provides social skills coaching.

She specializes in working children and adults starting at age 10 and older.

Cortlin is pleased to be an in-network provider with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, United Healthcare, Tricare, Healthy Blue, UHC Medicaid, and Trillium.

Meet Dr. Mark Besen

Practice Areas

Psychological and Neuropsychological Testing

What is the value of psychological or neuropsychological testing?

Psychological testing allows for information to be obtained through methods that do not solely rely on an interview alone. We can evaluate brain functioning as well as information obtained through standardized tools in addition to information obtained in a clinical interview.

Through this, we can better understand presenting problems and provide more accurate diagnoses than can typically be obtained by brief office visits with a healthcare provider or even through a clinical interview at a traditional psychiatric or behavioral health practice. Since we are a specialty practice where testing is all we do, we are able to spend significantly more time with each patient and their family members to obtain a more comprehensive evaluation.

In the case of neuropsychological evaluations, we are able to identify if a patient is experiencing impairment in memory and other areas of cognition which are unlikely solely due to aging. We can also identify patterns of impairment that may be consistent with various types of neurocognitive disorder such as:

Alzheimer’s disease
vascular dementia
stroke
post concussive syndrome
brain injury

In the case of psychological evaluations for children and adolescents, we are able to assess for additional factors contributing to difficulty with learning such as the presence of a(n):

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
depressive and/or anxiety disorders
impact of past trauma
prenatal exposure to substances
intellectual disability
specific learning disorder

What happens during psychological or neuropsychological evaluation and testing?

The psychological evaluations we provide include a clinical interview which consists of collecting background information from patients and accompanying family members and/or other support individuals. During the clinical interview, we will ask about details associated with the presenting concern for which testing is being requested, current and past symptoms, past relevant behavioral health treatment history, risk factors, medical history, medications, and social history. This information helps us determine the most appropriate assessments to use during testing.

Following the clinical interview, either the psychologist or a psychological technician will administer a battery of tests through a variety of methods including use of computers and iPads, oral questions, rating forms, and manipulation of materials. The tests we utilize assess intellectual and cognitive functioning abilities as they relate to the presenting concerns and also assess for the presence of symptoms and behaviors associated with various psychological disorders. In the case of a neuropsychological evaluation, more extensive testing in areas of memory, language, complex attention and central executive functioning are conducted to further assess for the presence of neurocognitive impairment associated with dementia or brain injury.

Once testing has been completed you will be scheduled for a follow-up consultation within 1-2 weeks to review the results of testing and discuss treatment recommendations. You will receive a full testing report summarizing background information, detailed scores and interpretations, and recommendations through an encrypted email several weeks following the feedback visit.

Insurance and Payment

We accept the following insurance:

Medicare

Blue Cross Blue Shield

AETNA

Tricare Prime, Select, For Life and Retired

Trillium Community Health Plan

Healthy Blue Medicaid

United Healthcare Medicaid

Medcost

Call to inquire about additional insurance plans. Please note that not all providers accept all insurance plans. We will be happy to discuss your scheduling options.

Payment

For your convenience we offer discounted self-pay pricing.

Our office accepts all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover)

Please call our office to get a quote on the services you may require.

Insurance