If you or your child is struggling at school, a Learning Disability might be the reason. How do you know for sure? A comprehensive Psychoeducational Assessment from the Possibilities Clinic—called a Signature Assessment—can help you figure that out. Our Telemedicine Assessment services extend from Toronto to Ottawa, Hamilton to London, Oakville to Kingston, Oshawa to Thunder Bay, Kitchener-Waterloo to Windsor, and any other location in Ontario! So you can access our comprehensive Signature Assessment—and our multi-expert team that examines learning, attention and mental health as part of the assessment—without coming to our central office in Toronto.
Here are questions we are asked often about our Psychoeducational Assessment, called a Signature Assessment, along with our answers.
When you or your child is struggling at school, our Signature Assessment can help you figure out why. Our assessment involves a team of experts—from medicine and psychology—and is comprehensive, examining learning, attention, and mental health. Data we collect might indicate a Learning Disability, ADHD, other concerns like anxiety—or a combination of difficulties. Once we find answers, we can create a scientifically supported Treatment Plan to build skills and support success. A Learning Disability diagnosis can also help you secure support and accommodations at school.
People with learning differences share a common story; they are bright and curious, but they aren’t doing as well as expected at school. A Psychoeducational Assessment looks for the underlying cause. It examines brain functioning in many areas: memory, processing speed, academic abilities, visual and verbal problem-solving skills, and expression of ideas. Once strengths and needs are identified, our team can recommend targeted and scientifically supported treatments.
Learning differences rarely appear alone. If a Learning Disability such as Dyslexia exists, there is a very high chance that ADD or ADHD is also in the mix. And when ADD or ADHD is present, mental health challenges, like anxiety, might be in the mix, too. Strategies focused only on learning won’t be that effective if attention and mental health issues are also present and not addressed. Medical and psychological treatments may be necessary—in addition to educational interventions for learning difficulties—to ensure wellness in a full range of functioning.
Research shows that early assessment and treatment result in better learning and mental health outcomes. If you have concerns about your child’s learning at the end of Grade 1 and into Grade 2, consider a psychoeducational assessment at that time. Strong scientific studies show that evidence-based treatments can overcome Dyslexia when delivered early.
However, it’s never too late! Interventions for learning challenges continue to be effective in high school, university, and into adulthood.Yes! Amazing change can happen with the right treatment at the right time. But recommendations can’t be general or vague. Recommendations must be targeted, specific, personalized, and supported by science. At Possibilities, everything we do is data driven—from the results we receive from your Signature Assessment to what brain science tells us will improve skills. Accommodations work around challenges, but evidence-based treatments can change the brain in fundamental ways. We’ll make recommendations for accommodations because they will always be important and helpful. But evidence-based treatments exist that can change brain circuits in remarkable ways. For example, we offer Rewire 4 Reading —a program with lots of support showing atypical brain circuits in Dyslexia can be changed to produce stronger reading skills. With the right treatment at the right time, brains with Dyslexia can become reading brains! We’ve seen this change at Possibilities in countless clients. Parents say, “it’s a miracle,” but we say, “it’s neuroscience!”
- Medical Intake: You’ll meet with the physician to discuss concerns, share relevant background information, and review medical history. This initial appointment also helps us make sure our services are right for you, matching your needs to the types of assessments we offer.
- Testing: Next, a psychometrist will test over a series of sessions. There are approximately 8 hours of direct testing in total. The psychologist or psychological associate assigned to your Assessment Team will also be involved in the testing.
- Clinical Team Meeting to review results: Before we meet with you for feedback, the clinicians involved in the assessment will meet to examine test results and discuss diagnoses. Our experts will also devise the next steps in a personalized, evidence-based Treatment Plan.
- Psychology Feedback: When the report is complete, you will meet with a member of the psychology team to discuss the results of testing. We’ll provide you with a written report that can be shared with schools for support and accommodations. You’ll also have an opportunity to discuss the recommended Treatment Plan.
- Physician Feedback: Our physician will meet with you following the assessment to discuss medication options if applicable. If you decide to proceed with medications, the physician will work with your family doctor or pediatrician to find the right treatment.
After the assessment, share the report with the school—or an employer if you choose—to help secure support and accommodations. If you chose to try non-medical treatments through the clinic—like Rewire 4 Reading or ADHD Coaching for kids, teens, or adults, please contact us to speak with a Care Coordinator.
At this time, all of our clinicians are licensed to see people in Ontario only. Hence, you must be physically present in Ontario, even for our virtual appointments, in order to be eligible for this option. We may be able to change this arrangement in the future, so stay tuned!
Yes. A specialized physician is involved in all of our assessments, so a doctor’s referral is required. If you are not seeking an assessment, but wish to proceed directly with therapy or coaching, a doctor’s referral is not required.
Please fill out our Child and Adolescent Intake Form for children and teens, or our Adult Intake Form for adults. Once we have this form and the physician referral, our Coordinator will call you to set up an appointment. For any questions, email us at info@possibilitiesclinic.com or call 1-833-482-5558 to speak to one of our Clinical Coordinators.
