Psychological assessment involves a clinical interview and observations and, depending on the purpose and circumstance, may include psychological testing, reviews of available documentation and collaboration with family, school, care providers and others, as appropriate.

For individuals presenting for psychological treatment, assessment can offer insights into personality and abilities, and identify issues of concern such as emotional functioning, perceptual processing, problem behaviours, coping styles, and stress tolerance. Psychological assessment can promote greater self understanding and help to plan effective and reliable interventions.

When the intent is treatment, the first session most commonly involves obtaining a description of the presenting concern(s) and a review of the most relevant historical information. Brief psychological tests may be administered as appropriate, and more extensive testing may be advised. Initial results of the assessment and possible treatment recommendations are typically discussed at the end of the first session.

Assessments methods for couples and families may involve similar components to assist in recognizing participant needs, conflicts, roles and responsibilities that affect their communication patterns, interactions and relationships.

Psychological assessment can also provide reliable information to help answer questions posed by other health professionals and referral agents such as family doctors, case workers, legal representatives, disability insurers and case managers, school systems and social agencies.

Services include:

• Personality, Cognitive, Academic, and Vocational Assessments
• Disability Assessments
• Medical-Rehabilitation Evaluations
• Return-to-Work Planning Assessments
• Relationship Assessments
• Child and Adolescent Psychoeducational Assessments (Intellectual functioning and disorders of Communication, Specific Learning, Autism Spectrum, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity and Behaviour)

Scientific evidence confirms that psychological treatment can help people of all ages live happier, healthier and more productive lives. Psychological intervention challenges people to explore their feelings, behaviors, thoughts and physical reactions and promotes a better, more inclusive understanding of themselves and their relationships. With greater self-awareness and the development of more effective ways to deal with their problems, make better choices and effect desirable changes people often achieve dramatic improvements of in their productivity and overall quality of life.

Psychological treatment is a collaborative relationship between the provider and the individual, couple or family to systematically identify the problem issues and establish goals (what they want to happen), agree on a plan to meet their objectives, and to determine how they will measure their progress.

There is often more than one way to treat a psychological challenge and your psychological provider’s approach will depend on his or her specific training and orientation, prevailing clinical guidelines, best practices, research evidence and on your nature and preferences.

A psychological treatment session typically lasts about 50 minutes; commonly 90 minutes for families. Therapy duration may be brief involving only one or several sessions or extend over a longer period of time, depending on the nature and complexity of the problem(s) being addressed and the choice of interventions.

Services Include:
Individual Psychotherapy and counselling for children, pre-teens, adolescents and adults, including senior adults. Concerns may include: Depression, Anxiety, Anger Control, Pain and Illness, Situational Stress, Educational and Occupational Problems, Obsessive- Compulsive Characteristics (and Disorders), PTSD (and issues unique to military and first responders), Substance Abuse/Dependence, Bereavement, ADHD, Abuse and Bullying, Learning Disorders, Impulse Control and Conduct, Feeding and Eating, Insomnia, Personality Disorders, Sexual Problems, etc.

Couple/Marital Therapy (For those seeking to: advance relationships, improve effectiveness of communication, work through conflict constructively, resolve sexual problems, increase affection and intimacy, expand problem-solving strategies, etc.)

Family Therapy can help with separation, divorce, subsequent marriages and family conflict and address family challenges such as eating disorders, substance abuse and control/responsibilities.

Consultation services are offered to individual patients, family members, physicians, educators, mental health professionals and to business interests to co-operatively facilitate the development, delivery, and evaluation of plans for care, personal and professional growth, workplace productivity and wellbeing, and scholastic achievement. Consultations may be provided in person, by telephone and on-line (where communication equipment is compatible and security can be established).

We offer small group, individual in-home and on-line support for family caregivers dealing with situational losses associated with dementia, other neurological conditions or chronic mental health disorders and for the professionals that serve them. Our providers can assist caregivers assess and understand the effects of the grief and loss on family caregiver behaviour; strengthen their resiliency and augment their personal resources, recognize and implement vital self-maintenance and avoid burnout, and help facilitate good family and professional caregiver relations.

Services also include presentations to organizations and caregiver group leaders and training workshops for caring professionals.