|
|
Psychological/Diagnostic AssessmentPsychological Assessment (also called psychological evaluation or testing) is a way to better understand a person's skills. During the day, all of us are required to process information, problem-solve through various situations, attend to various daily living tasks (dressing, eating, toileting, home care, community living), and complete work-related activities whether that be at school for a child/adolescent or work for an adult. Sometimes, it can seem as if a person is struggling with one or more of these day-to-day tasks. Psychological assessment/testing can help us understand why those struggles may be happening through evaluation of cognitive, academic, language, memory, adaptive behavior/daily living, emotional, behavioral, and/or social skills. Assessment will also help uncover strengths a person has that can help him/her better get through the day. The information learned from this testing can help in the development of specific recommendations and strategies so the person can better complete daily life tasks, and strategies sometimes include suggestions for school-based services and supports.
I have completed thousands of psychological evaluations to investigate concerns of Cognitive/ Intellectual/Developmental Disability, Academic/Learning Disability (including Dyslexia), Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, Behavioral Problems, and Language Delays. I also complete intellectual/cognitive/IQ testing that is sometimes needed for school admissions processes such as the WISC-V and WPPSI-IV as well as that related to pursuit of County Board of Developmental Disabilities services. What to Expect1. Diagnostic Interview/Intake
During this visit, often lasting 1 hour, I will strive to learn as much as I can about the concerns in order to determine the testing needs. I will use the information provided on the intake form (see Forms) and ask any additional questions that are needed to fully understand your concerns. It is also important to learn about what you/your child does well or succeeds in. Please make sure to bring any previous evaluation reports for yourself/your child, including school ETR and IEP documents. 2. Testing/Evaluation I will attempt to complete all testing within one visit, when possible. Testing sessions typically last 2-3 hours during which you/your child and I will work together in my office. For child assessments, parent(s) complete rating forms in the waiting area during the testing session, and I will also often request that a teacher completes rating forms as it is very helpful to learn more about how a child is doing in the school setting. For adults, it is sometimes helpful to have significant others or coworkers complete ratings. Testing activities can include answering questions, looking at pictures, and completing puzzle-like activities. There is no way to study for these testing activities so simply arrive prepared to try your best. It is very helpful if the the person being tested eats beforehand and gets a good night's sleep. We will discuss whether or not to take prescribed medications. 3. Feedback Session Once all testing information is gathered (testing, self/parent/teacher rating forms), you/a child's parent(s) will attend a feedback session to review the results/conclusions and recommendations from testing. I will provide detailed descriptions and explanations of results. You are encouraged to ask any questions you may have. This visit lasts approximately 1 hour, and you will be provided with a written Psychological Assessment Results report that can then be shared with other treating providers, school personnel, etc at your discretion. Children do not need to attend this visit. |
I regret that I am not able to accept new patients for therapy/intervention.
Sometimes children engage in troublesome behavior that can make day-to-day living difficult. While it may feel like your child is the only one demonstrating these challenging behaviors, I have worked with hundreds of children with difficult behavior including tantrums, aggression, self-injury, anxiety, feeding refusal, toileting problems, and sleep problems. The good news is that there are numerous strategies that can help reduce or eliminate these problems.
I use evidence-based treatment strategies such as A) Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) strategies to teach parents how to reduce problem behavior(s) and increase appropriate behaviors/skills B) Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help individuals learn how to live in line with their values and the things that matter most to them C) Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help children, adolescents, and adults learn ways to reduce distressing emotions Parent involvement is essential for the behavior change process as parents are the people most consistently around a child. I will gather information from parents to fully understand a child's behavior and develop specific, action-oriented strategies that a parent can use to begin changing child behavior. In later sessions, I help parents problem-solve through difficult aspects of implementing the strategies while also celebrating successes with using these behavior techniques. We will determine together how often therapy visits should occur as I hope to allow for ample time to implement the strategies and determine if any changes have occurred while also reducing the need for excessive time off work for parents and time away from school for children. Psychological Therapy/Counseling for
|