How to Prepare for Your Child’s Psychological Assessment – Tips for Making the Process Smoother for Both Children and Parents

At Joy in Healing Psychotherapy and Assessment, we understand that the process of a psychological assessment can be overwhelming for both children and parents. Many parents come to us unsure about what to expect, but we're here to make the experience as seamless and stress-free as possible. Our goal is to provide families with gold standard assessments quickly, without the long wait times commonly associated with this process.

Here’s what you can expect and how to prepare to make the process as smooth as possible for both you and your child:

Step 1: Intake Appointment

The first step in the process is the intake appointment. This is conducted via telehealth and lasts for one hour. During this appointment, we will have an in-depth interview with the parents, discussing important details about your child’s history. This includes developmental milestones, educational background, family dynamics, and any concerns you may have about your child’s behavior, emotional well-being, or academic challenges.

This meeting is an opportunity for you to provide a comprehensive picture of your child’s needs, allowing us to create a tailored assessment plan. The information we gather during this interview will be instrumental in guiding the next steps of the assessment process.

Step 2: Assessment Phase

The next phase is the assessment phase, where your child will come into the office for the actual testing. Each child is unique, so we take their individual needs into consideration when planning this phase. Some children may only need two to three sessions lasting one hour each to complete their assessments, while others, such as adolescents, may be able to complete everything in one full-day session.

We always ensure that your child is at their optimal peak for performance. If your child is feeling tired or unwell, their ability to perform well on assessments may be affected. That’s why we make adjustments based on your child’s energy levels and attentional needs, ensuring they do their best work.

Step 3: Parent and Teacher Questionnaires

An important part of the assessment process is gathering information from both parents and teachers through questionnaires. Parents will be asked to complete several forms based on their child's unique needs and behaviors. Additionally, we ask for input from your child’s teacher to provide a well-rounded perspective on how your child is functioning in the school environment.

To facilitate this, you will need to complete a Release of Information form through our secure Therapy Portal. Once completed, the teacher will receive an email from a HIPAA-compliant test developer website with a link to the questionnaire.

We strongly recommend informing your child’s teacher in advance so they are aware and can expect the email. Teacher response times can sometimes cause delays, as teachers are understandably busy. Your role in gently reminding them to complete the questionnaire will help keep the process moving smoothly.

Step 4: Report Writing

Once we have received all the completed questionnaires—parent and teacher—and any additional required information, the writing process begins. Here’s where our practice truly stands out: We pride ourselves on completing comprehensive reports within one week after receiving all components, including the teacher questionnaires. This is a much quicker turnaround than the industry standard, and we believe that timely results are important for your child’s progress and planning.

Step 5: Feedback Session

The final step in the process is the feedback session. This will be conducted via telehealth to allow for screen sharing, where you’ll meet with the psychologist who conducted the assessment. During this session, we will go over the entire assessment report, explaining each section in detail. You’ll receive an in-depth diagnostic summary of your child’s strengths and challenges, along with a personalized recommendations section.

Our recommendations are the “bread and butter” of the report. They are based on gold standard research and tailored specifically to your child’s unique needs. We provide clear and actionable suggestions, including:

• Learning recommendations that focus on your child’s cognitive strengths and how to leverage them in the classroom and at home.

• Treatment recommendations that align with evidence-based approaches, including therapies and strategies proven to be effective for your child’s specific challenges.

• Provider referrals to trusted professionals and specialists in the area who can further support your child’s development.

  
  

Our approach is designed to be comprehensive and personalized, ensuring that every recommendation is actionable and practical for your child’s situation.

Following this final appointment, your signed report will be added to the portal for your convenience. You may share this final report with other providers as you see fit.

Why Choose Joy in Healing Psychotherapy and Assessment?

At Joy in Healing Psychotherapy and Assessment, we strive to be different from other practices. What sets us apart is our unique process that makes it possible to receive assessments without months of waiting. We prioritize your family’s time and needs, offering quick, high-quality assessments that focus on understanding your child in the most thorough, efficient way possible. Our commitment to personalized care and our quick turnaround times ensure that your child gets the support they need without unnecessary delays.

By following these steps and preparing for the assessment process, you can help ensure that your child is in the best position to succeed and receive the most accurate and helpful results.

We’re here to guide you every step of the way, your child’s journey toward understanding, growth, and healing begins here.