About Psychological Assessment

About Psychological Assessment

Psychological Services for Children/Families Involved with the Child Welfare System

Rates & Insurance Information

The goals of an assessment are:

To gain a richer, deeper, and/or different understanding of a person’s thoughts, emotions, processing, behavior, and learning; and

To use that understanding to help the person be more comfortable, successful, and/or untroubled in daily life.

A psychological evaluation goes beyond identifying a diagnosis, disorder, or disability. The goal of a psychological assessment is to gain a richer and deeper understanding of how a young person thinks, relates, feels, learns, behaves, and processes information so that they can succeed and flourish in their everyday lives and in their futures.

At Mindsights, we take a client and family-centered approach and individually tailor each assessment to a young person’s unique needs. We use scientifically-grounded psychological measures and testing procedures, and we collaboratively work with the important people and systems in a young person’s life as part of the evaluation process.

What does a psychological assessment at MindSights typically consist of?

  • Information Gathering Session (approximately 1 hour  using video conferencing): The psychologist meets with a young person’s caregivers to learn about what their concerns are, gather information about the young person’s developmental history, and allows opportunities for caregivers to ask questions. At the end of the meeting, the psychologist will talk about if/how a psychological evaluation would be helpful and next steps.

  • One to Three Psychological Testing Sessions (approximately 1 ½ – 3  hours each session in-person): Based on the plan discussed with the psychologist, a young person and a caregiver will attend one to three testing sessions at our offices in either Bend, Portland, or Washington County. The young person will meet individually with the psychologist and caregivers will be asked to complete questionnaires about the young person’s thoughts and behaviors while they wait.

  • Review of Records & Consultation with a Young Person’s Team (e.g., school teacher, therapist, pediatrician, care coordinator): If clinically indicated and with consent from caregivers, the psychologist will reach out to the important people and/or systems in the young person’s life to gather more information and review relevant documentation and records.

  • Debrief/Feedback Session (approximately 1 – 2 hours using video conferencing): Once all the information is integrated and gathered through observation, testing, interviews, and/or review of records, the psychologist will conduct a debrief/ feedback session with the important people in a young person’s life. The psychologist will go over results, discuss their clinical impressions,  provide recommendations, and answer any questions. A separate debrief/feedback session can be provided for the young person as well. The debrief/feedback session is meant to be a discussion and dialogue between the psychologist and important people in the young person’s life about how to best understand and support the young person.