Psychological Assessments

Program Description

The Integrated Wellness Group (IWG) accepts referrals for psychological testing from the following community providers:

• Pediatricians
• Mental Health Consultants
• Schools
• Parents
• Selected Court Mandated Cases

Comprehensive psychological assessments generally include evaluation of cognitive ability, academic achievement, adaptive functioning, and personality. A set battery is not used. Rather, the tests employed are tailored to the specific needs of each case. Frequently, additional tests are identified on the basis of preliminary findings. Testing typically requires 2 – 3 sessions with the parent(s) (Including a feedback session) and 7 – 9 hours of testing with the child. More circumscribed evaluations are occasionally conducted under special circumstances. If language assessment is required, referrals are directed toward a specialist, such as The Center for Speech and Learning.

Payment for psychological evaluations are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Psychoeducational

A Psycho-educational Evaluation is a comprehension assessment of a student's functioning in three primary areas that impact learning and academic functioning: These areas include: 1) learning aptitude; 2) basic academic skill development; and 3) personality/adjustment factors. A Psycho-educational Evaluation is often conducted in order to determine whether a specific learning or other disability (e.g., ADHD) may be impacting significantly on a student's academic performance. Psycho-education assessments are conducted with children/adolescents from Pre-K through 12th grade.

• IQ
• Learning Disabilities
• ADHD Evaluations
• Academic Achievement

Developmental Assessments

A Developmental assessment is an evaluation process which provides a greater level of understanding related to a child’s development. Skills and areas assess are: Visual Reception (problem solving), Motor (fine and gross motor skills), Language (receptive and expressive), and Adaptive (daily living skills). Assessment results typically provide the child’s competencies in the developmental areas described above and assist in designing learning environments which will help a child grow to his or her potential. Results will also assist teachers in creating a curriculum that provides multiple learning opportunities that best suits how each child learns. Developmental assessments are conducted with children aged 18 months through age 5.

• Developmental Delays
• Adaptive Skills
• Behavioral Problems

Personality Assessments

Personality assessments measure an individual’s personal characteristics (traits). The assessment seeks to define these traits, to measure them objectively, and to relate them to socially significant aspects of behavior. Assessments conducted measure psychological functioning which assesses constructs relevant to personality and psychopathology (e.g., depression, anxiety, aggression, etc.) in various contexts. In addition, results from personality assessments assist in diagnosing and treating psychiatric and clinical disorders or associated risk factors.

• Social/Emotional Functioning
• Personality Traits/Disorders
• Clinical Diagnosis

Interactional Assessments

Interactional assessments focus on the attachment style between a child and his or her caregiver(s), child development, and how family relationships and attachment styles affect the child within the family. Interactional assessments include a comprehensive interview with the caregiver(s) that is carefully designed with one question building upon another. In addition, observation of the caregiver(s)-child interaction occurs throughout the process and caregivers(s) are encouraged to take care of the child regardless of the interview.

• Parent-child attachment and relationships

Psychiatric Evaluations

A comprehensive psychiatric evaluation may be necessary to diagnose any number of emotional, behavioral, and/or developmental disorders. An evaluation of a child, adolescent, or adult is made based on presenting behaviors and in relation to physical, genetic, environmental, social, cognitive (thinking), emotional, and educational components that may be affected as a result of the behaviors presented. Examples of requested psychiatric evaluations are: immigration/deportation, prerequisite for bariatric surgery and/or fertility treatments, etc.