Comprehensive evaluations for children, adolescents, and college-aged young adults

A psychological evaluation helps families understand their child’s behavioral, emotional, and/or learning challenges. This process can be critical for guiding mental health treatment, accommodations for school (e.g., 504 Plans) and college, and modifications to your child’s educational curriculum (e.g., Individualized Education Programs or IEPs).

Common referral concerns include:

  • Learning disorders

  • Attention and executive functioning difficulties (e.g., disorganization, difficulty planning and organizing, problems transitioning between activities, impulsivity)

  • Social communication vulnerabilities

  • Neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., ADHD, autism, intellectual disability)

  • Behavior problems

  • Mood symptoms (e.g., depression, anxiety, irritability)

The assessment process has three phases:

Intake:

Your family participates in a clinical interview to better understand your goals and answer questions about the process (~60-90 minutes).

Testing:

The child or adolescent will participate in an individualized battery (approximately 5-8 hours, usually over two separate sessions). Sessions can be scheduled on some weekdays and weekends.

Feedback:

During a verbal feedback session scheduled ~4 weeks after the final testing session, your family will participate in a collaborative discussion about the results and recommendations (~60-90 minutes). You will also receive a written report.

In addition to providing diagnoses, evaluations highlight strengths, clarify challenges, and identify next steps for treatment and educational services. As requested, Dr. Tomaso is also available to attend school meetings to explain assessment findings and advocate for appropriate accommodations.