Please Note:

I am not currently accepting assessment clients, but please reach out if you’d like a referral or consultation.

What is a psychoeducational assessment?

The goal of an assessment is to determine why learning, behavior, or other tasks are challenging for a child, and what can be done to help. While assessments can result in diagnoses for children, my assessments focus on giving you a profile of strengths and challenges, as well as recommending strategies and interventions. Each assessment is different, but here is the general process:

History and Interviews: I want to hear all about your child from you, their teachers, and other caregivers. This includes in-person interviews, as well as questionnaires. 

School Observation:  I will observe your child in multiple settings during the school day, such as in different classes and on the playground. 

Testing with your child: I will meet one-on-one with your child over several sessions to test their cognitive ability, auditory and visual processing, memory, academic skills, social-emotional skills, and behavioral functioning.  I select tests based on what we want to know about your child. 

Report: I provide you with a written report discussing the history, observations, and testing results. I detail and explain your child's strengths and challenges, any appropriate diagnoses, and what next steps should be taken at school and at home to help your child succeed. I meet with you to review this report and what it all means, answer your questions, and make a plan. 

Meeting with the child: An important outcome of assessment is for children to understand more about themselves as learners. I talk to children in language appropriate for each child about what I learned from the assessment, how their brain works, and what strategies they can start using. 

Meeting with school: I meet with your child's teachers to share the results, answer their questions and support them to execute next steps to help your child.

Additional interventions: We will work together to find a support network in the community for you and your child, and trusted, effective providers, as needed.

Follow Up: Parents receive a lot of information and action items at the time of assessment, and it can be a bit overwhelming. I check in with parents after 3-6 months to see how things are going and what questions you still have. For parents who need additional, ongoing support, I can consult as needed.

Should I get an assessment through my child's school?

Based on your situation, a school-based "IEP assessment" might be the best next step for your child. We can talk about the various pros and cons of school versus private assessment, and I can help you begin the process of requesting a school assessment if it's appropriate. There may be reasons you prefer to get a private assessment, or your child's needs may not match up with an IEP assessment. Maybe you've already had an IEP assessment, but it didn't answer the questions you have about your child or you'd like a second opinion. For more information about private versus school assessment, here is a great article.

What is a Licensed Educational Psychologist?

A Licensed Educational Psychologist is someone who has been trained as a school psychologist and who has the experience and credentials necessary to be licensed for private practice in the state of California. LEPs can conduct assessments, consult with families and schools, and provide coaching and counseling. In addition to an LEP, I hold a Ph.D. in Child Development in Education, and have worked for years as a teacher, counselor, and school psychologist. While most psychologists or neuropsychologists work with children in an office or medical setting, LEPs have the advantage of having worked in schools and classrooms, which helps us understand the connection between a child's profile, the supports they will need at school, and how best to obtain those supports by collaborating with teachers and schools.

As a parent, it can be overwhelming to figure out what the difference is between an LEP, a neuropsychologist, a child psychologist, etc., but in most cases, anyone with these qualifications should be able to assess your child. What’s more important is whether they have experience with your child’s profile (for example: dyslexia, autistic teens, transgender children, or girls with ADHD) and feel like a good fit for your child and family.