Has a teacher or health professional suggested a psychological assessment?
Do you have unanswered questions about your neurotype?
Our psychologist Holly is experienced in using assessment to provide answers.
Our assessments are comprehensive and dynamic, and guided by the questions being asked and the individual we are working with. Assessments are completed in stages over multiple online appointments. Look below to find out more about what we do and the questions we aim to answer with each type of assessment.
Step 1: INTAKE
Holly meets with you to clarify what questions you are asking and relevant life context. By the end of the first session you should have an understanding of what assessment/s we are recommending, a timeline, and approximate costs.
Step 2: ASSESSMENT
The assessment is completed over several sessions. Timelines for completion vary a lot and often depends on how many types of assessment we need. Questionnaires are all completed online in your own time. Below are the main types of assessments we complete at Brave HQ. If you are not sure if we can help you, please contact us for more information.
ADHD
“Why do I seem to have clear differences with emotional regulation, organisation, distraction, and energy levels compared to other people?”
We explore three main areas relating to ADHD: Inattention (difficulty directing attention in line with your goals, distractibility, forgetfulness), Impulsivity (interrupting others, acting without thinking), and Hyperactivity (restlessness, over and under activity of body and mind). Assessment involves 2-5 sessions for the diagnostic interview, and a questionnaire to capture your perspective of your skills in attention, cognitive flexibility, switching and organisation.
Mental Health
“I don’t feel like myself, should I be concerned?”
“I have not not coped well to a big life change or event, should I be getting more help?”
These types of assessments are used to find out whether a person’s mental health is functioning reasonably well, taking into account their age, life experiences, and environment. Using a standardised interview tool, we cover mood episodes, psychotic symptoms, substance use, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and adjustment disorder. We screen for further issues such as eating disorders. If requested, your personality traits can be analysed in relation to what makes you stand out from others and if your differences are extreme and warrant consideration of a personality disorder.
These assessments often assist in planning treatment. We may suggest you complete this assessment if you’ve been referred for counselling and have never been comprehensively assessed.
Autism
“The way I communicate is often misunderstood. I experience sensory discomfort, and the way I enjoy moving or holding my body is perceived as odd by others. Could I be autistic?”
This assessment evaluates verbal and nonverbal differences in social communication and interactions, sensory processing, your development of relationships, patterns of behaviour, interests and activities, and experience of change and routine. Reports are written inclusive of affirming language and diagnostic criteria. Traditional criteria as written in the DSM-5-TR is provided to meet requirements for funding bodies such as NDIS. An NDIS access form is provided if you wish to access funding.
Step 3: REPORT WRITING
On completion of a formal assessment a detailed report will be compiled outlining background information, clinical observations throughout the assessment, results with interpretation from the psychologist and practical recommendations for the child, parents, schools, and GP’s where relevant. This report is concise as possible (2-3 pages) for readability purposes.
Step 4: FEEDBACK
This is the last but most essential stage. A feedback session allows the psychologist to walk you through the results and communicate what they mean. It’s your chance to clarify anything you may be unsure of, and to discuss the results directly with the psychologist. You will be provided with a digital copy of the report (paper copies on request).