A psychological assessment is a process of discovery that is used to answer questions you have about your child. Parents may have questions such as . . .
- Why is my child having such a hard time learning to read?
- Why does my child have a hard time with transitions and changes in routine?
- How can I help my child feel less anxious?
- Does my child have ADHD (or autism, a learning disability, depression, anxiety, etc.)?
- What supports will help my child be more successful at school?
Assessments can also be helpful for guiding treatment. If your child is participating in therapy or psychiatric treatment, an assessment can help their providers better understand what interventions or strategies are most likely to be successful.
What does a psychological assessment involve?
A psychological assessment, sometimes referred to as “testing” or an “evaluation,” uses a variety of tools to gather information about your child’s strengths and weaknesses across different domains. At my practice, we use a collaborative assessment approach which engages parents and children in the assessment process from the outset. We collaborate with parents, clients, and providers to identify “assessment questions,” and these questions guide the assessment process. For more information on collaborative assessment, see the Collaborative Psych Assessment Model.