Assessment, counselling, and speech therapy
What is an assessment?
An assessment is the gathering of information by a mental health professional through standardized testing, observation and other methods for the purpose of clarifying an underlying issue.
Generally, these “issues” affect the person’s quality of life, and therefore, motivate an individual to seek out resources for help. The assessment can also identify personal strengths that can be utilized in treatment or next steps.
There are different types of psychological assessments, and each one has a specific purpose. The two most common types of assessments are:
Psychoeducational Evaluations
This kind of assessment focuses on a person’s cognitive and academic skills, as well as their social-emotional functioning. It includes tests of general intelligence (IQ), attention, memory, reading, writing, and mathematics. The psychologist will also assess a child/youth’s mood and social adjustment in the clinical interview and via questionnaires. A psychoeducational assessment may lead to a diagnosis of Learning Disability (LD), Giftedness or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), or Intellectual Disability. A formal diagnosis is often required to access school- and work-based interventions. The assessment is also helpful in providing specific strategies for the school and home environment, and can help shape a student’s Individual Program Plan (IPP).
Mental Health Evaluations
These assessments are performed for any individual who is experiencing distress or anything that is affecting their mental wellbeing or quality of life. These evaluations may lead to a diagnosis related to such things like anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Regardless of a diagnosis, all assessments are aimed at providing you with personalized recommendations to support you or your family on the pathway to well-being.
Other types of assessments we provide include:
- Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Assessments
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Assessments
- Giftedness Assessments
- Legal or Insurance-Related Assessment
- Neuropsychological Assessments
- Pre-Employment Assessments for First Responders
For more information about each specific assessment, please contact us.
As each assessment varies greatly in the amount of time required for completion, the process will be adjusted to suit your specific needs and wants. The mental health professional working with you will help determine whether all or some of the assessment can be completed online if desired.
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What is counselling?
Counselling is participating in dialogue and receiving advice from a mental health professional, such as a psychologist or social worker, where different tools and strategies are developed for coping with trauma and daily life stressors.
Counselling can be beneficial for anyone, as mental health affects everyone and we all deal with uncomfortable feelings. Having a professional to help guide you through intrusive thoughts or unhealthy patterns, can be significant in improving your quality of life immediately.
Here are some examples of concerns that counselling could benefit:
- Anger
- Anxiety
- Attention Problems
- Depression
- Family Conflict
- Gender and Sexual Diversity Affirmation
- Grief and Loss
- Men’s Mental Health Issues
- Parenting Challenges
- Relationship Issues
- Separations and Divorce
- School Challenges
- Social Challenges
- Trauma and Abuse
- Work Stress
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What are speech-therapy services?
Speech-language therapy is used to identify, diagnose and treat communication and swallowing disorders and other speech-language related concerns across a person’s lifespan.
Most commonly, these services are provided to children and teens, although adults may benefit as well.
Here are some examples of concerns in which speech therapy could benefit:
- Speech sounds – how we say sounds and put sounds together into words.
- Language – how well we understand what we hear or read and how we use words to communicate.
- Literacy – how well we read and write.
- Social communication – how well we follow rules, like taking turns, or how close to stand to someone when talking.
- Voice – how our voices sound. We may sound hoarse, lose our voices easily, talk too loudly, or be unable to make sounds.
- Fluency – also called stuttering, is how well speech flows. Many young children stutter for a period of time, though most outgrow it.
- Cognitive-communication – how well our minds work. Problems may involve memory, attention, problem-solving, organization, and other thinking skills.
- Feeding and swallowing – how well we suck, chew, and swallow food and liquid. A swallowing disorder may lead to poor nutrition, weight loss, and other health problems.
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