Formal Psychological Assessments
Psychoeducational, Psychosocial, Trauma and Giftedness Assessments in Calgary
You have been wondering for a long time.
Why certain things are harder for you than they seem to be for others. Why you can hold everything together on the outside and still feel like something is not quite right on the inside. A psychological assessment is how you get answers that are grounded in evidence rather than guesswork, and how you finally begin to understand what has been going on.
Contact to discuss your needs
What a psychological assessment is
More than a test. A fuller picture.
A psychological assessment is a structured, multi-step process used to better understand how a person is functioning across cognitive, emotional, behavioural or developmental areas. It is not a single test. It typically involves a combination of clinical interviews, standardised tools, behavioural observations and where relevant, information from other sources.
The purpose is to build a detailed and accurate picture of a person's strengths and challenges, grounded in evidence rather than impression alone. For many people, an assessment is the first time they have had language for something they have known about themselves for years.
Assessments are available for both adults and children. The nature and scope will depend on the referral concerns and what questions the assessment is intended to answer.
Types of assessments
People seek assessments for all kinds of reasons.
You do not need a referral to request an assessment. These are some of the areas commonly assessed at this practice.
ADHD in adults and children
A thorough assessment of attention, executive functioning and related areas, for adults and children who have wondered for years whether something else was going on.
Psychoeducational assessment
Often requested for children and teens navigating school, a psychoeducational assessment looks at learning, memory, attention and processing together, and can support an individualized program plan or classroom accommodations.
Cognitive functioning
Understanding memory, processing speed, reasoning and other aspects of how the mind works, especially following an illness, injury or significant change.
Psychosocial assessment
Looking at how psychological and social factors, family, work, culture and life history, are affecting a person's functioning, often requested for immigration, legal or support related processes.
Trauma and PTSD assessment
A structured assessment for adults who have experienced a traumatic event and want clarity on what they are carrying and what kind of support could help going forward.
Giftedness assessment
For children and adults whose cognitive abilities fall well above average, a giftedness assessment can clarify learning needs that standard programming does not always account for.
Developmental assessments
For children and youth where developmental concerns have been raised by a parent, a school or another professional.
Disability assessment
Documented findings that can support workplace accommodations, academic accommodations or other disability related applications.
What the process looks like
Step by step. No surprises.
Initial contact
You reach out to discuss your concerns and what you are hoping the assessment will address. We determine whether this practice is the right fit.
Intake interview
A detailed clinical interview covering background, history, current concerns and the specific questions the assessment is intended to answer.
Assessment sessions
Standardised tools are administered across one or more sessions depending on the scope of the assessment. This varies by what is being assessed.
Written report
A comprehensive written report outlining findings, interpretation and recommendations, suitable for sharing with schools, employers or medical providers.
Feedback session
A dedicated session to walk through the results in plain language, answer your questions and talk about what the findings mean for you going forward.
Assessment fees
Fees vary by scope and type.
Psychological assessments vary considerably in duration and complexity depending on the presenting concerns, the age of the person being assessed and the purpose of the referral.
How fees are determined
Assessment fees are discussed directly before any work begins. There are no surprises. The fee will reflect the time required for the intake, assessment sessions, scoring, report writing and feedback session. If you have questions about cost or want to understand what an assessment for your specific situation would involve, reaching out directly is the best first step.