FAQs

An assessment may be considered if there are teacher or parental concerns about a child’s learning, attention, hyperactivity, social functioning, emotional functioning or behaviour at school. Your child may benefit from an assessment if he/she is:

• Having difficulty learning new skills as readily as peers
• Not achieving or progressing academically
• Inattentive at home or school
• Starting to lose interest in school or putting in less effort
• Excessively sad or worried
• Expressing a dislike of school or that the work is too hard
• Disruptive in class or at home
• Demonstrating low academic confidence

Typical referral questions can involve questions about the individual’s learning, academic achievement, attention, hyperactivity, social functioning, emotional functioning or behavioural functioning that may be impacting his/her academic, social or occupational success. Some referral questions may be:

• Does my child have a learning disability? / Do I have a learning disability?
• Is my child gifted?
• Is my child’s level of attention unusual for his/her age? / Do I have an attention disorder?
• What are my child’s strengths and weaknesses? / What are my strengths and weaknesses?
• What recommendations/accommodations would benefit me/my child in academic, social, and occupational settings?
• Are my child’s mental health symptoms impacting his/her school performance?/ How are my mental health symptoms affecting my success at school or work?

Parents play a critical role in the assessment process for both minor and adult clients. Specifically, parents are instrumental in providing background information about their child’s academic, family, developmental and health history along with their social/emotional/behavioural functioning. Additionally, parents will be asked to complete rating forms about their child. When the client is a child, it is helpful for parents to provide report cards, school work samples, previous medical/developmental/psychological reports and any other documents that would aid in understanding their child.

Parents of minor clients will be expected to meet with the clinician in two face-to-face meetings to: 1) complete the intake and background interview and 2) receive the results and recommendations of the assessment (case conference). Rating scales can be completed at home and returned to the clinician as soon as possible.

For parents of adult clients, all communication can be completed through email or phone. Rating scales can be emailed and returned through email or fax as soon as possible. It is not necessary for the parent to attend the intake meeting, but they may wish to attend the case conference meeting if approved by the client.

All information shared with a psychologist during counselling or assessment is confidential with a few notable exceptions mandated by law. Guidelines established by the College of Alberta Psychologists stipulate disclosure of information to prevent immediate and serious harm to you or someone’s else life or to public safety and mandates the duty to report when dependent individuals are in need of protection. Your psychologist will discuss with you the procedures for consenting to the sharing of information with other stakeholders (e.g. teachers, physicians, accessibility services departments in post-secondary, representatives from Alberta Community & Social Services, etc.).

Clients referred by Alberta Community & Social Services will receive a full copy of their assessment report as will their designated representative from this department. For specialized assessments contracted privately, two copies of the complete assessment report will be provided to you. If you choose to provide consent, we can assist in sharing your assessment results with other stakeholders.

Psychologists do not have prescription privileges. However, we can provide referral to physicians and psychiatrists when psychopharmaceuticals will be beneficial. With your consent, we can work with your prescribing professional to share information to ensure you receive well-coordinated treatment.

If you are in crisis and require immediate assistance, please call the Mental Health Crisis Line (1-877-303-2642), your local hospital or 911. Information on other crisis services is located under Helpful Resources