Creating a Comfortable Evaluation Experience
Many children and adolescents feel unsure about testing at first. One of my goals is to help the evaluation process feel comfortable, engaging, and approachable.
I believe meaningful evaluations begin with connection. Taking time to listen, build rapport, and
understand each individual helps create an environment where children and adolescents can feel more at ease and better able to show their strengths, abilities, and authentic selves.
What to Expect
Seeking an evaluation can feel overwhelming, especially when you are concerned about your child and unsure of what comes next. My goal is to make the process clear, collaborative, and informative from beginning to end.
May evaluations are completed over multiple appointments, allowing sufficient time to gather information and develop a thorough understanding of your child.
Every psychological evaluation is individualized, but the process generally follows these steps.
01: Initial Consultation
Understanding Your Concerns
The process begins with a consultation to discuss your questions, concerns, and goals for the evaluation.
We will review your child’s history, current challenges, strengths, and any previous evaluations or services. This conversation helps determine whether an evaluation is appropriate and guides the development of an individualized assessment plan.
02: Records and Background Information
Gathering the Whole Story
Relevant records may be reviewed prior to testing, including:
- Previous psychological evaluations
- School records
- Report cards
- IEPs or 504 Plans
- Medical records (when applicable)
Parents and teachers may also be asked to complete rating scales or questionnaires to provide additional information about functioning across settings.
03: Evaluation Session
Comprehensive Assessment
Testing is tailored to the referral questions and the individual child.
Depending on the reason for referral, the evaluation may include assessment of:
- Cognitive abilities
- Academic achievement
- Attention and executive functioning
- Social communication
- Adaptive functioning
- Emotional and behavioral functioning
- Memory and processing skills
Throughout the process, I strive to help children feel comfortable, understood, and supported.
04: Scoring and Interpretation
Looking Beyond Scores
Evaluation results are carefully analyzed and integrated with developmental history, observations, rating scales, records, and other relevant information.
The goal is not simply to generate scores or determine whether a diagnosis is present. The goal is to understand how a child learns, thinks, communicates, and functions across different environments.
05: Feedback Session
Reviewing the Results
Once the psychological evaluation is complete, we meet to review the findings in detail.
This conversation provides an opportunity to:
- Discuss strengths and areas of challenge
- Review diagnoses, when applicable
- Ask questions
- Explore recommendations
- Develop a plan for moving forward
Families receive a comprehensive written report that summarizes findings and provides individualized recommendations.
06: Comprehensive Report
Clear Answers and Practical Recommendations
Families receive a comprehensive written report that summarizes the evaluation findings and provides individualized recommendations.
Recommendations may address:
- School supports
- Accommodations
- Intervention services
- Therapy recommendations
- Executive functioning supports
- Home-based strategies
- Future planning
The goal is to provide meaningful information that helps families make informed decisions and advocate effectively for their child.
Moving Forward With Confidence
A psychological evaluation should provide more than answers. It should provide a deeper understanding of your child’s unique strengths, needs, and potential.
Whether the evaluation identifies a diagnosis, confirms existing concerns, or simply provides greater clarity, the goal is to help families move forward with confidence.