Though you can't go back and change the beginning, you can have a fresh start to a new ending.

Our Mission and Vision

We understand that many people require support in understanding themselves or getting back on life’s track. However, few people actually seek the help to do so. We admire you for taking this first step.

Our providers use a range of modalities to help you get a “fresh start” in home, school, social, and relational areas. We believe in true, long-term, and effective change, not just improvements for the moment.

10+

Years

Why Choose Us

At Fresh Start for the Mind, we provide a comprehensive range of services that assist individuals in improving and transforming their lives.  Our expert team offers Psychiatry and Medication Management, ensuring personalized and effective treatment plans to address a variety of mental health needs. Our Psychological Evaluations and Academic Testing helps identify strengths and areas of growth, underlying influences to mental health symptoms, and differentiation between overlapping diagnoses – all leading to targeted recommendations for success in home, school, or work settings.  Through Counseling & Coaching, our providers utilize a variety of interventions to understand and empower individuals, fostering personal growth and life fulfillment. Additionally, our Nutrition Support aims to enhance overall well-being, recognizing the crucial connection between mental and physical health. At Fresh Start for the Mind, we are committed to empowering our clients with the tools and guidance they need to thrive in all aspects of their lives.

Meet your Care Team

At Fresh Start for the Mind, our team stands out as a model of professionalism and expertise in the field of psychological services. Each member possesses exceptional qualifications and education, with a strong foundation in their respective specialties. Our licensed clinical psychologists bring a wealth of experience and in-depth knowledge to craft comprehensive evaluations and personalized treatment plans. Our psychiatrists are at the forefront of cutting-edge medication management, ensuring optimal outcomes for our clients. With unwavering dedication, our team is committed to the well-being and improvement of our clients’ lives, going above and beyond to provide the highest standard of care. We take great pride in being the best in our field, continuously honing our skills, and staying updated with the latest advancements to deliver transformative results that inspire lasting positive change.

Natasha Thomas, M.D.

J. Denise McKinney, Psy.D.

Dale R. Goodman, Ph.D., D. Min.

What are you waiting for?

We understand that many people require support in understanding themselves or getting back on life’s track. However, few people actually seek the help to do so. We admire you for taking this first step

Frequently Asked Questions

Appointments and Scheduling

  • How do I make an appointment?

    Click on this link to complete an online request form. This is the quickest way to get a response and avoid playing phone tag. We understand that everyone is busy and can’t always answer phone calls. Please let us know on the form when is a convenient time for us to call regarding your appointment request. You may also call 404-808-1161 and follow the prompts.

  • What insurance do you accept?

    We accept most major insurance for psychological evaluations except for United Healthcare and Kaiser. Insurance coverage is NOT practice wide, it is by provider. Not all providers take the same insurance. Some of our providers are not in network with any insurance. Please see provider page for more information on network status.

Psychological Evaluations

  • What are some of the things you test for?

    You can find a list of things we test here – Psychological and Academic Testing 

  • How does the evaluation process work?

    Our evaluation process consist of 3 steps; Intake, Testing, and Feedback

    1. INTAKE – You (or parent/guardian of a minor) will meet with a psychologist for a one-hour virtual appointment to obtain information on health, history, and specific concerns. After discussing your (or a minor’s) history, the psychologist will discuss the evaluation process, scheduling, and costs based on the type of evaluation determined.  
    2. TESTING – Generally conducted across 1-3 appointment sessions (approximately 2-3 hours each) – sometimes less and sometimes more. Qualified psychometrists (evaluators) administer testing ordered by the psychologist, and these professionals work closely together to assess, score/interpret, and provide a final report of the findings.
    3. FEEDBACK – Generally scheduled 8 weeks from the last date of testing. You will receive a call or email from our administrative team for scheduling, at the request of the psychologist. In this appointment (usually virtual, using the same link as the intake appointment), the psychologist will discuss the report findings and next-step recommendations, and answer any questions you may have based on the process and results. 

Costs for Evaluation With and Without Insurance

  • If you will be using insurance.

    You will not get a real estimate until the intake appointment because there is clinical information that plays a part in the total estimate. The psychologist must know how much/what kind of testing is needed. An estimate is not a guarantee of payment by your insurance provider. If you would like to be proactive and call your insurance company for specific coverage, you can provide them with the psychological testing procedure codes: 96130, 96131, 96136, 96137, 96138, and 96139. The insurance company will give you costs per unit/code for testing. The amount of codes and type of testing needed will be determined at the time of intake. 

  • Private Pay Cost

    You will not get a real estimate until the intake appointment because there is clinical information that plays a part in the total estimate. The psychologist must know how much/what kind of testing is needed. Comprehensive evaluations for private pay patients generally range from $2000 to $3500, depending on the specific testing required. 

TESTIMONIALS

Our Happy Clients

2 months ago
From the moment I arrived with my nephew for testing I knew we were going to have a good experience. I was nervous and as was my nephew. He had lots of questions to ask them himself. They answered all of his questions with patience and made sure he fully understood everything they would be doing. They explained what each test/ activity was used to do or what it was looking for per my nephews request. The testing itself is long which 1. Is to be expected but also 2. They were very thorough which I appreciated. I did some work myself while I was there waiting so bring something to do while your little one is getting tested! I highly recommend everyone here as each person we came into contact with helped ease our nerves while we were there. Thank you again !
2 months ago
Dr. McKinney and her staff have made navigating the world of neurodivergence so much easier with a young child. We've had such a pleasant experience in getting in quickly for evaluations and receiving phenomenal care and guidance to provide the best support and life to our child. We have also used them for adult evaluation and diagnosis, which was such an easy process. We cannot recommend them enough!
6 months ago
I’ve been with Dr Thomas for nearly 15 years and followed her as she joined this practice. To summarize her care it’s nearly impossible, she’s been an incredible support throughout so many of life’s hurdles and continues to be a pillar of strength when I need it most. I’ve appreciated her balanced and conservative approach to medications and encouragement of therapy. Additionally she’s been extremely open minded to alternative medicine and natural supplements to aid in my overall health and wellness. As a teen she was the kind of doctor I needed after so many bad experiences. As an adult she’s continued to be one of the best practitioners on my team, encouraging me through even the toughest of times. Fresh start has been excellent to me with both scheduling and communication, which can always be difficult in any practice. I’ve rarely been left hanging or without a response and the team has been excellent about assisting when scheduling emergencies have arisen. Overall if you are looking for a practice that will respect you, a psychiatrist who looks beyond just the file in front of them, and a place where you feel heard and respected, this practice and Dr Natasha Thomas are by far the best place I could recommend.