Assessment

A psychological assessment can identify issues that are affecting and impacting development and/or daily functioning.  Types of psychological assessments include psycho-educational and social-emotional.  A psycho-educational assessment emphasizes thinking, learning, and academic skills and a social-emotional assessment emphasizes social development, emotional development and adjustment, and other issues that may be affecting one’s coping.  Both generally look at behavior and general functioning.  Often, both components are needed in order to fully understand your child or teen.  Assessments include interviews, observation, testing and consultation with other professionals involved in your child’s care.  A feedback session is scheduled some time after the assessment is completed to have a discussion around the findings from the assessment and recommendations.  A written report is completed and provided to parents.  With your written permission, a copy will be sent to professionals involved in your child’s care.
A psychological assessment is helpful in identifying your child’s strengths and weaknesses and will lead to recommendations for support and intervention. You may be asked to bring copies of recent report cards and any reports of previous assessments as needed.

Therapy

Individual therapy is provided for children and teens for a variety of concerns such as anxiety, fears and phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, stress, adjustment difficulties, friends/peer relationships and social interactions, self-esteem, and other emotional and behavioral difficulties.  Dr. Clark’s main therapeutic approach is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and she also integrates mindfulness-based and play therapy techniques and approaches.  Sessions with both parents and children are a regular part of the therapeutic work for some issues.

Consultation

Consultation to parents and other caregivers and school personnel is also provided. Consultation may be related to behavioral and parenting issues, understanding previous assessments, as well as general child and adolescent development and social, emotional, and behavioral functioning.