Assessments

In most cases, assessments generally involve collecting information from a variety of sources, reviewing past medical and psychological information, interviewing clients (or others closely associated with the client, such as teachers and family members), and administering standardized assessment tools. Assessments often include intellectual testing (also known as IQ tests), academic evaluation, and other possible areas, such as receptive language, level of effort, and mental health symptomatology.

Once the assessment is completed, the assessor will compile all the information collected and complete a comprehensive report, which will include assessment results, diagnoses (based on DSM criteria), and valuable recommendations for those working with you, or your child.

The great news here is that no preparation is needed for most assessments. We may ask you to bring in previous psychological reports, medical documents, or other relevant information. However, in terms of the testing, the purpose of the assessment is to determine your current cognitive and academic skills and abilities, as well as current mental health status. Therefore, come as you are!

It is important to consider the uniqueness of each child when determining how and when to discuss a psychological or psychoeducational assessment with them. Some children thrive on preparation and do poorly when things are “sprung” on them. Other children become overwhelmed when given too much time to think and ruminate about an upcoming event, which results in unnecessary anxiety and stress. As each child is so different, we encourage parents and guardians to consider how much time is needed between discussing the assessment with their child and the assessment date.

In terms of what to tell your child, it is important to ensure school-aged children understand that an assessment is much different than a “test”. They are not expected to prepare in any way for the assessment and the focus is to put forth good effort on all tasks, as opposed to knowing all the answers. Assessments are meant to challenge the child and to present material that is at the limits of their abilities in order to identify strengths and weaknesses. As such, they will be exposed to questions and problems that are beyond their abilities and knowledge.

We encourage parents to tell their child that the assessment looks a lot like things they might normally do in school, such as listening and answering questions, building things, solving problems, and memorization. They may also be required to do reading, writing, and math. It may be comforting to tell a child that the assessment helps those who work with them, namely teachers and parents, to learn more about how they learn and to identify their strengths and areas where they might need more support. It is all about helping children to do their best!

It is important to tell your child that, in most cases, they will be working alone with the assessor. This is because we need to control the environment and make it the same for all children, which is part of “standardization” and is a primary component in all psychological testing. However, they are welcome to bring a comfort item or fidget toy and we generally work with children close to the reception area in our office, so they are able to easily get up and see their parents as much as needed.

We always encourage parents to ensure that children get a good sleep before the assessment and have eaten so they will not be hungry. It is sometimes helpful to focus on the assessment date as being a “special day” with the child where all the attention is on them.

Please ensure that, if needed, children bring their glasses to the appointment. We are often asked whether children should take their medication on the assessment date. As we are not physicians, we do not recommend altering medication regimens and we would encourage parents to reach out to their treating physicians if this is a concern.

In most cases, assessments are completed over a single day. However, if your child has significant attention issues, anxiety, or other concerns that would limit their ability to stay engaged in the assessment, we may complete the assessment over multiple appointments.

On the date of the assessment, you will enter our office and may be greeted by our office administrator. In most cases, questionnaires are sent out ahead of time and, as such, you may not be required to complete paperwork once you arrive at the office. We will show you into the office where the testing will take place and we generally encourage clients to bring snacks for longer appointments.

Once you are settled into the assessment room, the assessor will discuss the purpose of the assessment with you, go over consent, and answer any questions about the assessment process that you may have. We will generally spend additional time simply chatting and discussing interests with children, as this helps to build rapport and trust with the assessor.

Once you feel comfortable with the assessment, we generally begin testing. The duration of testing varies greatly depending on the type and purpose of the assessment. As an example, psychoeducational assessments with children generally take anywhere between 2-5 hours. Breaks are offered throughout the assessment, as well as a lunch break when needed. Children are welcome to visit with parents or caregivers as often as needed.

Once the assessment is completed, we may discuss some initial findings or observations, depending on the type of assessment. Payment is taken on the assessment date when we complete private assessments, and reports are usually completed within 2-4 weeks.

Watch Video

The short answer to this question is yes! We are able to administer most assessment batteries remotely using video chat software, screen sharing, and remote administration of psychological questionnaires. We follow all current guidelines around information privacy and security and continue to update our knowledge in this area through reading and workshops.

It is important to consider that tele-assessments vary somewhat from in-person assessments and that not all individuals are good candidates for completing these assessments. As an example, children who have significant attention issues or sensory impairments that would impact their ability to participate (e.g., vision impairments, speech and language challenges) may be better suited for in-person assessments. We carefully screen all clients before completing tele-assessments to determine if they will be a good fit.

It is also important to consider that some changes need to be made to facilitate remote administration of test batteries, and that the batteries used as part of these assessments may differ slightly from those used for in-person assessments. As an example, tests that rely heavily on the use of manipulatives are difficult to administer remotely, and therefore “substitutions” are necessary to swap one test for another.

No, you do not need a referral to complete a psychoeducational or psychological assessment. All you need to do to make an appointment is call or email our office!

The wait time for appointments will depend on several factors, including the type of assessment, time of year, and the clinician you are requesting. In most cases, we can generally book appointments 4-6 weeks from the initial consultation.

In most cases, information shared with a psychologist is considered confidential. However, there are limits to confidentiality that are important to consider, such as when completing an assessment for a third party (e.g., a school division or another organization is paying for the assessment), if abuse of a minor or vulnerable individual is disclosed to the assessor, or if the assessor believes you are in danger of harming yourself or others. These factors are discussed during the informed consent process and should be considered carefully before agreeing to participate in the assessment.

We are comfortable seeing most age ranges, from children as young as 4 to older adults. We generally recommend initial assessments for learning or behavioral challenges around grade 2, as children need a chance to acclimatize to school.

In some cases, schools are willing to have their in-house Psychologist (or private contractors) complete psychoeducational assessments. This can be a good option, especially considering the cost of completing assessments privately. However, it is important to consider some of the differences between having an assessment conducted through a school division and completing an assessment privately.

The main difference between private and school funded assessments is the amount of control a guardian has when completing an assessment privately. In this scenario, the guardian has control over who completes the assessment, as well as how much information they choose to share with schools, counsellors, or other individuals working with the child. When schools complete the assessment, they are considered “third party assessments” since the school has paid for the assessment, which limits the amount of control guardians have over the report and information collected.

Another common concern for parents is wait-times. Although wait-times can vary when completing assessments through a school division, it is not uncommon for parents to wait over a year before their child is assessed. This can waste valuable time in terms of intervention opportunities, as we know that early intervention is critical for supporting children with learning challenges and mental health issues. At Clarity Psychology, we can generally complete assessments within 6-weeks from booking the appointment.

A Psychometrist is an individual who specializes in the administration and scoring of standardized psychological assessment measures. In many cases, these individuals have a background in psychology. At Clarity Psychology, we often use Psychometrists to complete the testing aspect of the assessment, although it is always the responsibility of the Registered Psychologist you are working with to interpret the test results and to write the final report. If a Psychometrist is used to complete testing, this will be made clear prior to booking an appointment. In addition, these individuals are required to follow the same policies around confidentiality and privacy as Registered Psychologists.

It is important to note that Clarity Psychology does not currently complete assessments for custody access purposes. We require the consent of the legal guardian, parent, divorced parent with legal standing, or appointed care-manager as authorized by law. It is important to note that step-parents, grandparents, significant others, family friends, and/or caregivers cannot provide consent for psychological assessments.

In cases of divorce and separation, we generally attempt to obtain consent from both parents, as this helps to engage all interested parties and to ensure that the assessment and recommendations are understood by all caregivers. In some cases, we may ask to see documentation of custody before completing an assessment.

At Clarity Psychology, we are following the direction of our professional college (College of Alberta Psychologists), as well as provincial guidelines. As such, we no longer require masking, although this is also a personal choice, and we will oblige if you prefer practitioners to wear a mask during your session. We kindly ask that, if you are feeling ill or are actively symptomatic, you contact our office to reschedule your appointment or request the session to be virtual.

The Disability Tax Credit (DTC) is a credit that helps to reduce income tax that an individual (or dependent) with a recognized impairment in functioning, has to pay. It is meant to help support individuals and families with various types of disabilities related to the cost of the disability.

More information about the DTC can be found at https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/segments/tax-credits-deductions-persons-disabilities/disability-tax-credit/about-dtc.html

A number of health professionals can complete the forms required for the DTC, including psychologists. The section of the DTC form that psychologists are asked to complete falls under the category of “mental functions necessary for everyday life” (https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/segments/tax-credits-deductions-persons-disabilities/disability-tax-credit/eligible-dtc/mental-functions.html).
Some of the criteria that are contained in this category include:

• Initiating common simple transactions
• Completing basic hygiene requirements
• Showing awareness to dangers in the environment
• Choosing appropriate clothing for the weather
• Remembering basic personal information (e.g., home address)

At Clarity Psychology, our psychologists are often asked to help complete the requirements for the DTC application, which are not included in the costs for our services and are often time consuming. We have outlined the following policy for helping individuals and families complete these application forms.

Clarity Psychology Policy for Completing the DTC Application:

• There will be a flat rate of $200 per application, which is due upon the request of the application and is not tied to the success or failure of the application for the DTC.
• If the application is requested as part of a formal assessment (i.e., psychoeducational assessment, mental health evaluation) we will ONLY consider the information we collected as part of the assessment. In other words, we will not take into consideration new information that occurred after our assessment was completed.
• We will only complete applications using the digital form (see https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/segments/tax-credits-deductions-persons-disabilities/disability-tax-credit/how-apply-dtc.html). You will be required to complete Part A of the form and email our office the reference number provided. We will then complete Part B within 5-10 business days and submit the application digitally.
• We will not work with any third party companies that advocate for the DTC. We provide our own opinions regarding functioning.
• We retain the right to refuse to complete the DTC application.