Psychoeducational Assessments in NW Calgary: How can an assessment help?

Empowerment through Comprehensive Evaluation

Parents seek testing for many reasons. It can help explain why a child might be falling behind or having trouble with certain tasks. You might also notice your child is performing well above their age group in talking or thinking and want to check if they are gifted. Understanding your child's learning challenges and strengths is the first step toward getting the right support.

Figuring out how your child learns can feel overwhelming. I am here to explain every step and make sure you feel confident about what the results mean.

We will start our time together with a look at their early years and what they do well or struggle with in school. I will spend time doing direct assessment with your child. Then, at our final meeting, I will give you a summary of the outcomes and you will also receive a comprehensive written report that lists findings and helpful suggestions.

Helping You with Self-Discovery and Growth

Adults who pursue an assessment often do so to better understand themselves. An assessment can be a powerful tool for self‑discovery. It can help clarify cognitive strengths and areas of difficulty and support personal and professional growth.

Have you always struggled with reading, understanding or expressing yourself through language or writing, or maybe math has always felt particularly challenging? Maybe you felt like you were surviving school rather than learning. Either way, you have decided to seek an assessment now, maybe to help you with suggestions for post-secondary or to help understand yourself better,

What is a Psychoeducational assessment?

A psychoeducational assessment is a detailed and formal evaluation that measures cognitive abilities (i.e., how one thinks and learns or reasons with information), academic skills (i.e., reading, writing, mathematics), and other factors that influence learning and performance.

Using standardized, evidence-based tools, I will gather information about:

Cognitive abilities (overall intelligence or commonly referred to as "IQ", and other areas like processing speed and working memory)
Academic achievement (reading, writing, math skills)
Behavioural Functioning (ex. attention, hyperactivity, mood )
Social and Emotional Functioning, such as mood and anxiety.

The results provide a comprehensive understanding of how someone learns, processes information, and interacts with their environment.

Psychoeducational Assessment: The Process

Before We Start

Please contact me through the "contact me" form, or by booking directly for a 15 minute consultation. It is important we have an opportunity to speak before beginning the assessment process, to help ensure your needs can be best met. If I don't think my service will be a good fit or there is a different type of assessment than the ones I offer necessary, then I am happy to make appropriate referrals/suggestions for you. We will schedule our first meeting (a comprehensive intake and interview) to be held through Jane App or in-person.

Step 1: Parent Meeting
We begin by meeting to talk about your child’s strengths, challenges, and history (development, health, and learning). This can be done in person or virtually. This may include a diagnostic interview and a follow up meeting may need to be scheduled.

Step 2: First Appointment
Your child will come in for an in-person session. This allows me to get to know them, hear about their experience, and observe them and begin direct testing of cognitive and academic abilities. Plan for 2-3 hours.

Step 2: Second Appointment

Your child will come in for an in-person session. We will complete direct testing and any necessary interviews. Plan for 2-3 hours. The time duration will be discussed with you prior to the appointment.

Step 3: Questionnaires
You will be asked to complete some questionnaires about your child. I will also ask you to choose someone who knows your child well (such as a teacher) to complete a questionnaire.

Step 4: Feedback Meeting
Once the assessment is complete, I will meet with you to review the results and talk about recommendations to support your child. This can be in person or virtual.

Step 5: Written Report
You will receive a written report summarizing the results. This report can be shared with your child’s school or healthcare providers to help guide support and planning.

What is ADHD?

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition that can affect how a child pays attention, manages their impulses, and regulates their energy levels. There are 3 types of ADHD- Inattentive, Hyperactive/Impulsive, and a combination of the two. The Inattentive type of ADHD was referred to in the past as ADD.

Children with ADHD may find it challenging to sit still, follow instructions, stay organized, or complete tasks. They may also experience difficulties with emotional regulation and social interactions.

ADHD affects many children and teens and continues into adulthood. While these challenges can feel overwhelming at times, it is important to know that with the right understanding, supports, and interventions, children with ADHD can build on their strengths, develop effective strategies, and thrive in their daily lives.

What is an ADHD Assessment?

An ADHD assessment is a type of assessment that uses diagnostic interview, behavioural observations, and data from people who know your child well to help determine if they meet the criteria for ADHD. ADHD symptoms can greatly impact academic performance and even social interactions. Early diagnosis, intervention, and appropriate support are important to help manage symptoms and enhance quality of life. This type of assessment can clarify the presence of ADHD and offer practical suggestions to enhance functioning at school or in other settings.

The Process

Step 1: Parent Meeting
We begin by meeting to talk about your child’s strengths, challenges, and history (development, health, and learning). This can be done in person or virtually. This will include a diagnostic interview and a follow up meeting may need to be scheduled.

Step 2: Child Appointment
Your child will come in for an in-person session. This allows me to get to know them, hear about their experience, and observe them

Step 4: Feedback Meeting
Once the assessment is complete, I will meet with you to review the results and talk about recommendations to support your child. This can be in person or virtual.

Step 5: Written Report
You will receive a written report summarizing the results. This report can be shared with your child’s school or healthcare providers to help guide support and planning.

Pricing

The Psychologist's Association of Alberta has a recommended fee of $235/hour.

It can be viewed at: https://psychologistsassociation.ab.ca/recommended-fee-schedule.

Psychoeducational Assessments

The Psychologist's Association of Alberta has a recommended fee of $235/hour.

It can be viewed at: https://psychologistsassociation.ab.ca/recommended-fee-schedule

Psychoeducational assessments costs can vary in range depending on the amount of time needed to complete. These typical include cognitive, academic, and social-emotional, and behavioural functioning (such as, if you are also wondering about ADHD).

The time needed includes intake interviews, interviews with educators, direct testing with your child (4+ hours), diagnostic interviews, scoring and interpretation, conceptualization of your child's learning profile and any diagnoses that are present, alongside careful and thoughtful preparation of the assessment findings that will be provided to you in the form of a comprehensive assessment report.

Psychoeducational Assessments through this clinic are billed at a flat rate of $2800.00.

ADHD Assessments

ADHD assessments do not include formal testing of cognitive or academic abilities. If you have learning or reasoning/processing questions or concerns, consider a psychoeducational assessment.

ADHD assessment fees are a flat rate of $1500.00