Social/Emotional Testing

Social/Emotional Testing is recommended for individuals who are experiencing difficulties with mood (depression, irritability, mood swings), anxiety, low self-esteem, behavior problems, family conflicts, and/or social skills. In some cases, an assessment of only social, emotional, or behavioral issues is sufficient. This may be the case when a child is NOT also struggling with attention or learning issues.

Testing Process:

Following a consultation, social/emotional testing typically takes place over one, 3- or 4- hour testing session.
It is an interactive process where I am working one-on-one with the test-taker engaged in a variety of tasks.
I do not have a “standard” battery. I create a tailored testing plan for each client based on age and specific concerns. However, many social/emotional evaluations include:
- Standardized rating scales that assess specific problem areas (mood, anxiety, social/communication, behavior) completed by parents, teachers, and your child/adolescents
- Projective measures (i.e., personality assessments) that provide insight into your child’s personality structure, character traits, interpersonal skills, relationship styles, self-esteem, coping skills, and emotional make-up. Tasks may include:
  - Responding to ambiguous stimuli
  - Telling stories
  - Drawing pictures
  - Completing computerized personality inventories
Consultation with current providers (e.g., therapists, psychiatrists)
Test scores will be interpreted and integrated with my behavioral observations and a review of important documentation (e.g., prior testing reports, treatment history) to conceptualize your child’s difficulties, provide diagnoses when appropriate (e.g., depression, anxiety, oppositional defiant disorder, bipolar disorder) and concrete recommendations.
Within 1-2 weeks of testing, I will meet with parents for a 60-minute feedback session. This will provide in-depth information about your child’s coping, their strengths and vulnerabilities, and their unique long-term psychological functioning. When appropriate, specific diagnoses will be provided and explained (e.g., Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder) with recommendations for treatment, home life, and school functioning.
When appropriate, I also offer an abbreviated child or teen feedback session, so your child can hear the results direct from me in language they will understand. This is helpful when parents would like help in sharing diagnoses with their child.