Services

Core Services

Psychoeducational Evaluations

A psychoeducational evaluation is a comprehensive assessment that is undertaken to better understand the needs of a student who is struggling academically.

Social-emotional & Behavioral Evaluations

Social-emotional and behavioral assessments are undertaken to better understand a child’s psychological functioning across several domains.

Gifted
Assessments

All children are uniquely talented and gifted, but gifted/intelligence evaluations are performed to determine appropriate school placements and intervention for children who have shown advanced skills or learning and who may benefit from a more challenging learning program.

Intervention
Services

Our approach to therapy is one that is goal-directed and utilizes evidence-based cognitive-behavioral techniques to help children and adolescents dealing with problems such as anxiety and depression.

Psychoeducational Evaluations

A psychoeducational evaluation is a comprehensive assessment that is undertaken to better understand the needs of a student who is struggling academically. The pertinent areas of functioning including cognitive, academic, emotional, behavioral, social, and information processing are assessed in our psychoeducational evaluations. The assessment provides important information about a student’s current level of functioning, strengths, and areas of weakness/need. It also provides specific and individualized recommendations to support the student’s learning and development at school and at home. The findings of a psychoeducational evaluation can be useful to support the request for individualized intervention or school accommodations necessary for a child’s school success.

A psychoeducational evaluation can be undertaken to address:

Learning Disabilities (dyslexia or other reading and writing difficulties as well as Nonverbal Learning Disabilities)
School problems requiring accommodations (e.g., IEP or 504 plan)
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Developmental Delays (Autism and Asperger’s)

Disruptive Behavior Problems
(Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder etc.,)
Intellectual Disabilities
Anxiety
Depression

Social-emotional and Behavioral Evaluations

Social-emotional and behavioral assessments are undertaken to better understand a child’s psychological functioning across several domains. It can help to identify a child’s symptoms mood, anxiety, anger, sadness, or difficulty interacting with peers, teachers, or parents. A social-emotional behavioral evaluation can help to provide a road map for intervention and treatment services.

A Social-emotional Behavioral Evaluation can be undertaken to address:

Anxiety
Depression
Social problems
Anger and Aggressive behavior

The following measures can be used in evaluation:

Behavioral Observation
Behavioral Rating Scales (e.g., the Behavior Assessment System for Children-Third Edition)
School Observation (Optional)
Review of School and Medical Records
A measure of Executive Functioning (such as Behavior Rating Index of Executive Functions (BRIEF))
Children’s Depression Inventory-2nd Edition
House-Tree-Person Projective Drawings
Revised Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale- 2nd Edition
Roberts Apperception Test
Social Anxiety Scale
House-Tree-Person and Kinetic Family Projective Drawings
Sentence Completion Test

Gifted Assessments

Some signs of learners who may be advance or possibly gifted:

Highly developed curiosity
Unusual alertness, even in infancy
Rapid learner; puts thoughts together quickly
Excellent memory
Unusually large vocabulary and complex sentence structure for age
Enjoys solving problems, especially with numbers and puzzles
Learn basic skills quickly and with little practice

Asks probing questions
Wide range of interests (or extreme focus in one area)
Interest in experimenting and doing things differently
Puts idea or things together that are not typical
Desire to organize people/things through games or complex schemas
Vivid imaginations
Independent

Intervention Services

Individual Therapy

Our approach to therapy is one that is goal-directed and utilizes evidence-based cognitive-behavioral techniques to help children and adolescents dealing with problems such as anxiety and depression.

Parent Management Training

Parent training to help address behavior management, discipline and developmental difficulties for children ranging from preschool through to adolescence. We can also provide home and school consultations.

Play Therapy

We provide play therapy for children who are dealing with emotional difficulties and family transitions.

Social Skills Training

We run social skills training groups for children during the school year. Please call for details and to find out about our waiting list.

Consultations & Workshops

We provide consultations to parent groups and schools regarding learning issues and behavioral concerns. Please call us for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are sessions held in person or via telehealth?

We offer a hybrid model of service. We usually see children and adolescents in person and can meet with parents via video conference. We are happy to work with each family to determine the best plan for their needs.

Will services be covered by my insurance plan?

Our office does not contract with any insurance companies. Some insurance plans offer some reimbursement for out-of-network services, at your request we can provide a detailed monthly receipt for you to submit directly to your insurance provider. We recommend that you contact your insurance company directly to determine out-of-network benefits. If you choose to submit a claim to your insurance company, your insurance may not cover some or all of the services. This notice is in accordance with the No Surprises Billing Act, which went into effect January 1, 2022.

What Can I expect?

EVALUATIONS

Evaluations are undertaken to provide information to parents, schools and other professionals regarding a child’s areas of strengths/weaknesses, diagnoses and potential interventions. Evaluations can address diagnostic questions related to Giftedness, Learning Disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Depression, Anxiety and ADHD.

Psychoeducational Evaluations include:

Interviews with parents and student
Direct testing of student’s cognitive and processing skills
Direct testing of student’s academic achievement
Direct testing of student’s social and emotional functioning
Behavior questionnaires completed by parents and teachers
Consultations with other professionals (as needed)
Review of school records (as needed)
Review of previous psychological reports
Scoring and interpretation of testing data
Written summary of testing results
Feedback session to review findings and specific recommendations

Gifted Evaluations include:

Brief interviews with parents and student
Direct testing of student’s cognitive abilities
Scoring and interpretation of testing data
A written summary of testing results
Feedback session to review results and recommendations

Social-emotional & behavioral Evaluations include:

Interviews with parents and child
Direct testing of student’s social and emotional functioning
Behavior questionnaires completed by parents and teachers
A review of school and other records (as needed)
Consultations with other professionals (as needed)
Scoring and interpretation of testing data
A written summary of testing results
Feedback session to review findings and specific recommendations

What does my psychoeducational evaluation or social-emotional and behavioral evaluation cover?

Dr. McKenzie’s fees include the initial parent interview, the direct contact hours spent administering the psychological tests, a feedback meeting, and a comprehensive written report with practical and specific recommendations.

Do you have payment plans?

Options for convenient payment plans can be discussed upon request.