MindWell Clinical Psychology

4455 Brookfield Corporate Dr.
Suite 101 • Chantilly, VA 20151
703.378.7998

5602 Shields Drive
Bethesda, Maryland 20817
301.581.1120

What is the Purpose of a Comprehensive Evaluation?

When a parent calls regarding an assessment for their child, we understand that this is a big step that can cause anxiety. Testing will help reduce this anxiety because it provides answers and a road map about WHAT TO DO to help your child, teen and family. While diagnoses are important, we work hard at MindWell to provide more than just labels. We offer very specific recommendations and written and oral feedback that is understandable, useful for everyday life,
and that will help navigate through school systems or treatment options.

A comprehensive psychological evaluation determines an individual’s pattern of cognitive, academic, and behavioral/emotional strengths and weaknesses. This understanding of his or her abilities used to select the most appropriate interventions and treatments to help the child/teen/adult function better at home, school, social life, and work.

 

A Comprehensive Evaluation:

 

 

What is included in a comprehensive evaluation?

Step One

The first step will be an intake session with the parents and the child/teen if developmentally appropriate. This diagnostic interview allows the psychologist to gather information about developmental history, school performance, learning issues, mood and behaviors, and family and social dynamics. We also use this time to review previous testing, school records, and any other documentation. We will consider who else is important for us to consult with regarding your child/teen. This may include your child’s teacher, pediatrician, occupational therapist, speech therapist, tutor, or therapist. We will determine if a school observation is indicated. Once you leave the intake session, you should feel confident about the investment you are making in the testing. Testing takes place over a period of one day, two morning sessions, or sometimes three different sessions.

Step Two

The psychologist then designs a testing plan to ADDRESS and ANSWER your specific concerns.

Step Three

The testing will be completed exclusively by a doctoral level, Licensed Clinical Psychologist. Unlike many practices, we NEVER cut corners by using students, ‘associates,’ or technicians to do the work for us. We maintain an extensive library for the most up-to-date assessment tools. All instruments are current, empirically validated, and most suitable to your child’s age, abilities, and referral question. Because we have clinicians with varied training and experiences, we have the benefit of having used a variety of measures in different settings and observing their utility in treatment planning. Having multiple tests that measure each aspect of functioning allows us to validate our findings, specify the exact nature of the strengths and weaknesses, and provide second opinions when previous testing has been completed recently. We also make sure to have the tests that most schools request for entrance testing, and the instruments needed to help your child qualify for accommodations for standardized tests. Our extensive array of assessment tools allows us to make the most accurate diagnoses and recommendations.

Our testing library includes assessment tools that measure:

Step Four

The licensed clinical psychologist administers and scores all tests and formulates an interpretation of all information gathered during an evaluation, and writes and extensive, detailed interpretation report. As soon as possible, you will receive results in a feedback session. At that session, you will receive a written report that is designed to be shared with schools, psychiatrists, pediatricians and related service providers (such as Speech Language Pathologists). The psychologist can also consult with the child (if age-appropriate), caregivers, teachers and other professionals (e.g., physicians, therapists) when requested by the caregiver. Finally, the clinical psychologist assists with development of a treatment and/or intervention plan.

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

What should I expect?

The psychological evaluation will include a clinical interview with parents/ caregivers to assess the child’s history and current learning, behavior, and/or emotional difficulties. Testing will involve paper and pencil tasks, hands-on activities, answering questions, and sometimes a computer. Parents will also be asked to fill out questionnaires about their child’s development and behavior. Total testing time may range from 5 to 8 hours, depending on the case.

How should I prepare my child for
the psychological evaluation?

Make sure your child has a good night’s sleep before his/her evaluation. If your child wears glasses, a hearing aid, or any other device, make sure to bring it. If your child has special language needs, please alert the psychologist to these.

Should my child take his/her medication on
the morning of the evaluation?

If your child is on a stimulant medication, such as Ritalin, or other medications, check with the psychologist beforehand about coordinating dosage time with testing.

What should I tell my child about the evaluation?

What you tell your child about this evaluation depends on how much he or she can understand. Be simple and brief and relate your explanation to a problem that your child knows about such as "trouble with spelling," "problems following directions," or "worries." Reassure your child that testing involves no "shots." Tell your child that you are trying to understand his or her problem to make things better. Tell your child it may feel like working with a teacher. Do not tell them it will feel like playtime because the time we need is valuable to gather data.

Can I observe my child’s evaluation?

Over the years of working with children, we have found that most children settle in quickly. We have found that having a parent in the room is usually quite distracting for the child, and makes it harder for him or her to fully concentrate on the tests. As such, we have found that most children do not do as well if a parent is watching their every move. Sometimes we have found that very young or anxious children do benefit from having their parent present, and so we make the decision based on what seems to be right for the child. Our psychologists are highly skilled in making sure that children feel comfortable enough to give their best effort.

Will I receive information regarding my child’s results?

An interpretive feedback will take place approximately two weeks following the completion of your child’s psychological evaluation. During this session, the psychologist will discuss test results and recommendations. The interpretive feedback session will be scheduled for approximately one and half hours. A detailed evaluation report, summarizing the test results and recommendations will be given to you at the time of your feedback session. A copy of the report will also be sent to other professionals (physicians, school personnel, therapists), at your request with a written consent

What will the results tell me about my child?

Testing can provide you with a better understanding of your child’s cognitive strengths and weaknesses and learning needs. It can provide information that may explain why your child is having difficulties in school or home. Overall, the evaluation can guide you, teachers, and therapists to better help your child achieve his/her potential academically, behaviorally and socially. The results will give you a guide for how to select the best treatments, school setting, educational interventions, therapies and medical treatment to meet your child’s needs. You will save valuable time and money from knowing what is most likely to help your child. Quality comprehensive psychological evaluations are essential for advocating for your child at school and for obtaining test accommodations.