Psychological Tests, Assessments and School Neuropsychological Evaluations

Dr. O’Connor, a Toronto psychologist, uses a range of psychological tests to increase understanding of adolescent and child problems and how to help.

Psychological Assessments

Psychological assessments help get to the root of child problems, and lead to evidence based solutions to address them. You will learn how well a child is doing, compared to other children his or her age, across a range of developmental domains. This includes the social, emotional and behavioral domains, as well as the cognitive/learning areas.

You will also learn where a child's strengths lie, and where there is cause for concern. A psychological assessment uncovers the nature and extent of adolescent and child problems and how to address them. A psychological assessment also provides the foundation to help move a child towards increased competence and psychological well being.

To learn more about our psychological assessments, click here.

School Neuropsychological Evaluations.

Dr. O'Connor offers School Neuropsychological Evaluations to her clients in Toronto and the surrounding area. Like a Pediatric Neuropsycholgical Assessment, a School Neuropsychological Evaluation assesses a range of neuropsychological issues and concerns. These include Sensory - Motor Functions; Attentional Processes; Visual Spatial Processes; Language Processes; Memory & Learning Processes; Executive Functions and Speed & Efficiency of Cognitive Processing. A School Neuropsychological Evaluation also assesses Cognitive and Academic functioning.

School neuropsychology integrates neuropsychological and educational principles to assessments and interventions with infants, children and adolescents. The goal is to increase understanding of the nature and extent of any neurological deficits the child exhibits, and to facilitate learning, psychological development and appropriate coping behaviors both at school and at home.

To learn more about our School Neuropsychological Evaluations, click here.

Consultations.

Dr. O'Connor offers consultations to parents, professionals and organizations. Whether you are a parent or professional, Dr. O’Connor’s consultations can help you explore your concerns about a child or adolescent, and find strategies to help.

Dr. O'Connor consults around a broad range of childhood and adolescent issues. These include social, emotional, behavioural and learning problems, as well as neuropsychological concerns.

In some situations consultations can be conducted by telephone or on line via Skype. You can also consult with Dr. O'Connor at her Toronto office or by e-mail.

To contact Dr. O'Connor to arrange or ask more about a child behavior consultation, click here.

Dr. O'Connor's Psychological Assessments, School Neuropsychological Evaluations and Consultations integrate a 4-step process.

These steps include:

• Step 1: Focusing On and Defining the Problem -- including the specifics of the problem and what seems to be contributing to and maintaining it.
  

• Step 2: Psychological Tests & Assessing the Problem: Informal measures (e.g., interviews, consultations, questionnaires, screening devices) and appropriate standardized and psychological tests help "get beneath the surface" to reveal the factors that contribute to and/or maintain the problem, its extent and the nature and severity of any weaknesses the child exhibits.
  

• Step 3: Understanding the Problem: Dr. O'Connor reviews, interprets and summarizes the information gathered above to develop an understanding of the child problem. This includes why it might be happening and what to do about it.
  

• Step 4: Interventions : The assessment leads to evidence based interventions to help address the child problem that worries you. Interventions include recommendations, strategies and resources tailored to the child’s individual concerns and needs.
  

Dr. O’Connor views the Psychological Tests or Assessment piece outlined in Step 2 as part of the intervention, and an essential, core piece of the process.

With a comprehensive understanding of the problem, including what is contributing to and/or maintaining it, we can develop effective interventions, tailored to the child’s individual needs. "One size fits all" interventions are not always effective. Interventions work best when they are tailored to the specific needs of the child.

Contact Dr. O'Connor

Find out whether Dr. O'Connor's psychological tests or any of her other services can help you.

You can also view several of our case studies to learn more about how a psychological assessment can help you help the children you care about and work with.

Presentations, Training Sessions and Work Shops

Dr. O'Connor offers Training and Work Shops for parents and professionals.

For a representative sample of Dr. O'Connor's presentations click here.

Find out how Dr. O'Connor's services increase understanding of child problems and how to help.

Learn more about Dr. O'Connor's services or ask questions about the psychological tests she offers or her psychological assessments, consultations and school neuropsychological evaluations. Contact Dr. O’Connor by phone (416-592-0838)or email.

Copyright 2011(c) Dianne S. O'Connor, Ed.D.All Rights Reserved.

Dr. O'Connor runs her practice, Assessment Based Solutions in Toronto (Yonge & St.Clair)

She can be reached at 416-592-0838.

You can also contact Dr. O'Connor by email.

Dr. O'Connor is the author of I Can Be Me-A Helping Book for Children of Alcoholic Parents.