What is the best way to help my child?
What can I expect if I have my child do this?
Initial phone call
We will talk for about 20 minutes. You can decide if you feel like I am the right person to help your family, and then we will determine if this type of assessment is right for your child at this time.
First meeting
We will spend about 2 hours together, adults only. Some time will be spent answering your questions about the assessment process for children. We will then focus on naming and exploring the questions you hope to answer about your child and about parenting them. We will also plan how to approach sessions with your child.
Second Meeting
I will spend 1 hour with your child using the procedure we decide would work best for them. Some time will be spent answering their questions about the assessment process. We will then focus on naming and exploring the questions they might wonder about themselves.
Testing sessions
Your child and I will spend between 2-6 sessions doing assessments. Each meeting will last 1-4 hours depending on your child’s age, interest level in the process and needs. Parents will be invited to join some of the sessions toward the last 30-60 minutes to explore what the tests we took that day might be saying about your child and their daily experience in the world.
Discussing results
After the testing sessions are done, we will usually have already answered many of your questions as we explored testing results along the way. After testing, you and I will have 1-3 meetings consolidating and discussing the testing results without your child present. We will also discuss what your next steps might be to help things improve for your child. We will also plan what information to share with your child or with others in their lives (school, other providers, etc.) and how to present that information.
Discussing results as a family
The next 1-2 meetings will be with you all as a family, including your child. Some find it helpful to have support persons or a therapist meet together with us during these meetings. These meetings will focus mostly on building understanding for your child about themselves. We will also focus on creating shared goals for the family, focusing heavily on how caregiver and child will each have a job to help things get better.
Summary Letter and Story
After we complete the discussion session, I will write a letter to you listing your questions and summarizing the answers we came to. I will also often write a story for your child, answering any questions they had or giving them an age appropriate summary of what we learned. Both the letter and any story would include the next steps and recommendations we talked about.
Optional Follow Up Session
You or your child might find it helpful to meet again several weeks after the discussion session to check in, share and process new insights or revelations, and to fine-tune the steps you are taking to move forward in your family goals.