The journey to getting support and help for children and adults with challenges can be a very difficult one. Schools may report that a child is having difficulty, or families may notice their child is struggling but not know what to do about it. Often there are many hoops families jump through in order to learn about what is going on for their child. Once specific needs are identified, there may be more obstacles in getting support so that they are able to help their child reach their potential. That's where a psychoeducational assessment can help!

Psychoeducational assessments provide a starting point for people to get help and support to overcome educational and developmental challenges. These assessments look at people's strengths as well as their challenges to form a complete picture of the person. With the help of a psychoeducational assessment, a child may be able to receive educational supports at school, or other outside supports to help them cope with the challenges they are facing. 

Psychoeducational assessments are not just for children, however. Adults may have psychoeducational assessments as well to gain a deeper understanding of their particular strengths and difficulties and then help them meet their potential and perhaps even gain accommodations needed to excel in the workplace or university setting.

Yes, but what is a psychoeducational assessment?

A psychoeducational assessment is a series of tests that help determine a person's mental health, developmental and educational needs. It may be used to identify learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, etc. It also may be used to identify the supports a person needs in order to succeed. This assessment doesn't just look at a person's challenges, it also helps identify their strengths. Knowing someone's strengths provides a place to start in helping address their challenges. 

What should I expect at an assessment?

Every assessment can be a little different, depending on the needs of the person and what works best for them.  Usually, it involves meeting with a licensed mental health clinician multiple times over several weeks to complete various assessment tools.  It can be a lengthy process but the assessment paints a picture of how to support the child moving forward. Sometimes, a team of professionals work together on the assessment to identify strategies to help support the child.

Once the assessment is completed, you will receive a completed, detailed report of the findings. Clinical staff will review the report with you and answer any questions you may have about the report.