Psychological Evaluations In White Bear Lake, MN
SHOULD I CONSIDER A PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION?
There are many reasons you may find yourself exploring the option for you or your child to participate in a psychological evaluation. You may have concerns related to depression, anxiety, or trauma but are unsure how to address them. You may be considering psychological evaluation for your child or teen who is underperforming at school, experiencing social problems, is withdrawn, or is exhibiting defiance. It can be painful and frustrating to continue to struggle while you exhaust all the options and feel like nothing is working. A comprehensive psychological evaluation will identify and target strengths which can sometimes be missed or minimized. The evaluation process will also identify underlying causes for concerning behaviors and provide specific recommendations to address the concerns. With a clear understanding of strengths, underlying causes for maladaptive behaviors, and targeted recommendations, you will walk away from the evaluation process with a solid foundation upon which to build a successful future.
Signs & Symptoms
DEPRESSION & MOOD DYSREGULATION
It is normal and healthy to experience regular changes in mood, but when changes in mood become extreme, persistent, and are impacting daily functioning, that may be an indication of a mood disorder such as depression. Other signs of depression may include irritability, loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, difficulty sleeping, changes in appetite, difficulty making decisions, pessimism, and feelings of helplessness.
ANXIETY
There are different types of anxiety disorders that impact people in unique ways. Common signs of an anxiety disorder are excessive worry, fear or panic that interferes with daily living. People with an anxiety disorder may find it difficult to concentrate and accomplish common tasks, experience physical symptoms of rapid breathing, sweating, and shaking, have trouble sleeping, feel fatigued, and avoid situations that cause the anxiety.
TRAUMA
Being exposed to traumatic or stressful events can cause psychological distress in many people that manifests itself in ways such as excessive worrying, difficulty concentrating, re-experiencing a traumatic event, and dissociation. Other common responses to experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event include irritability, mood changes, physical symptoms such as headaches and nausea, and withdrawing and isolating from others. Symptoms of trauma often look like symptoms of other psychological disorders and accurate diagnosis is vital for an individual to get the appropriate treatment they need.
HOW IT WORKS
What Happens During A Psychological Evaluation?
Step 1: Intake (1 to 2 hours)
We will meet virtually so I can learn background information and current concerns. There is nothing you need to do to prepare for the intake, just come as you are! I will use the information from the intake session to develop an individualized testing plan.
Step 2: Testing (3 to 5 hours)
An in-person testing appointment will occur about 1 week after the intake. Your child will engage in a variety of tasks to help me learn more specific information about them. The testing appointment is sometimes broken into multiple days.
Step 3: Feedback (1 to 2 hours)
The feedback appointment occurs about 2 weeks after the testing appointment. You will have a copy of the evaluation report and I will go over the results of the testing, including any potential diagnosis, discuss specific recommendations and next steps, and answer any questions you have. You will leave this appointment with clarity and confidence about what do to next.