Our Signature Assessment: A Comprehensive Psychoeducational Assessment of Learning, Attention, and Mental Health from a Multi-expert Team
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 academically. 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 problem areas are identified, our team can recommend targeted and scientifically supported treatments.
In Ontario, Psychoeducational Assessments for Learning Disabilities must be overseen by a neuropsychologist, clinical psychologist, school psychologist, or psychological associate. At Possibilities, we have psychologists in all these specialty areas to match your needs. We provide assessment services for children, adolescents, and adults. French psychoeducational services are available for children and adolescents.
Yes, if your school board hires licensed psychologists or psychological associates who provide assessments in schools, then you may be able to access testing this way. As a first step, we recommend that you request a Psychoeducational Assessment through your school. If you’re fortunate, you’ll be able to obtain an assessment at the school in a quick and timely manner. If that is not the case, you may wish to pursue a private assessment.
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.
Our team approach involves multiple experts and several sessions. Here is a roadmap:
- 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.
- Psychology Consent Review: You will meet with a psychologist or psychological associate who will explain the next steps, and review consent for testing.
- 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 will also be involved in the testing.
- 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. They will also devise the next steps in a personalized, evidence-based Treatment Plan.
- Psychology Feedback: Next you’ll meet with a member of the psychology team to discuss the results of testing and 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.
- Assessment Report: You’ll receive a written report signed by your Assessment Team that can be shared with school/work for support and accommodations.
After the assessment, share the report with the school—or an employer if you choose—to help secure support and accommodations. If you choose to try non-medical treatments through the clinic, like Rewire 4 Reading or ADHD Coaching for kids, teens, or adults, please contact us.
No! Our assessments are available throughout Ontario over secure video. We conduct direct testing for the Signature Assessment over the internet, as well as all interview sessions with clinicians. If you have a computer and a high-speed internet connection, all appointments and testing can be done from the comfort of your home. During the COVID-19 pandemic, all assessment and therapy sessions offered at the clinic are being conducted through secure video sessions. For your convenience, no matter where you live in Ontario, we will continue to offer video sessions for our Signature Assessment service even after the threat of the pandemic has subsided.
At this time, all of our clinicians are licensed to see people in Ontario only. Therefore, 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. Specialized physicians are involved in all of our team Signature Assessments, so a doctor’s referral is required. If you are not seeking an assessment of attention, but wish to proceed directly with therapy or coaching, a doctor’s referral is not required.
Please fill out our Registration Form. Once we have this form and the physician referral, a Care Team member will call you to set up an appointment.
For any questions, email us at info@possibilitiesclinic.com or call 1-833-482-5558.
