Evaluations, Testing, and practical recommendations for San diego Children, Teens, and Adults
“I Know My Child Is Smart. Why Is School Still So Hard?”
Let's Find Out Why Together.
A deeper look at how your child thinks, learns, and processes information can help uncover the reasons behind the struggle—and identify meaningful ways forward.
Not sure which one will address the needs of your child?
Schedule a free consultation and we will figure it out together!
Understanding the Learner Behind the Scores
Every service is designed to provide your family with meaningful insight, practical support, and a clear path forward.
Psychoeducational Evaluations
A psychoeducational evaluation is a comprehensive look at how your child thinks, learns, processes information, and approaches school. It helps us understand both their strengths and the areas where they may be experiencing challenges.
This evaluation may help understand your child’s needs if:
Your child is bright but struggling in school.
Their performance doesn’t match their abilities.
Learning seems harder than it should.
They struggle with attention or focus.
They have difficulty with memory or processing.
They’re struggling with reading, writing, or math.
They struggle with organization or executive functioning.
They become frustrated or overwhelmed by schoolwork.
You suspect a learning difference or ADHD.
Previous evaluations left you with unanswered questions.
You want a deeper understanding of how your child learns.
You want clear recommendations for next steps.
You’re seeking an independent evaluation or second opinion.
ADHD
Dyslexia
Dysgraphia
Dyscalculia
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Does my child need a psychoeducational evaluation?
Whether you’re wondering why school feels harder than it should, noticing a gap between your child’s abilities and their academic performance, or trying to better understand their learning needs, an evaluation can help answer the question:
“What’s going on, and what can we do about it?”
This evaluation can identify, assess, identify, and diagnose (when applicable):
Anxiety and Depression
Intellectual Impairment
Twice-Exceptional (2e) Identification
Executive Functioning Impairments
What is a School Neuropsychological Evaluation?
A school neuropsychological evaluation goes further by examining the underlying brain-based processes that influence learning and behavior, such as attention, executive functioning, memory, language, processing speed, visual-spatial skills, and social-emotional functioning. It connects these findings to the child’s real-world functioning and provides more targeted recommendations for instruction, intervention, accommodations, and educational supports.
As a board-certified Diplomate in School Neuropsychology (ABSNP), I apply a deeper level of knowledge and perspective to every evaluation I conduct.
This evaluation is particularly helpful for children with:
Complex or unexplained learning difficulties
Attention, executive functioning, or memory concerns
Reading, writing, or math difficulties
Language or processing challenges
Developmental or neurological conditions
Social-emotional or behavioral concerns that impact learning
A history of concussion, brain injury, or other neurological concerns
Multiple areas of difficulty that require a more comprehensive understanding of their learning profile
What happens after the evaluation is completed?
Once the evaluation is completed, I will meet with you and your child’s school team, if requested, to review a comprehensive, strength-based report that explains your child’s specific neuro-based needs. I will clearly connect your child’s brain-based strengths and weaknesses and provide comprehensive recommendations designed to support your child not only at school, but also at home.
This one-hour meeting to review your child’s results and recommendations will provide you with the clarity you have been advocating for.
School Neuropsychological Evaluations
When a standard psychoeducational evaluation has left you with unanswered questions on how to help you child with their current educational struggles, a school neurospychological evaluation will dive deeper to provide answers and supports to the complex needs of your child.
IQ/Cognitive Testing
Cognitive testing (often referred to as IQ testing) can lead to many opportunities. Whether needed for school placement, gifted program eligibility, or as part of a broader evaluation, you’ll receive clear, comprehensive results that help inform educational decisions.
What is IQ Testing?
IQ testing is a standardized assessment that provides information about how your child thinks, reasons, solves problems, and learns. It looks at different areas of cognitive ability, such as verbal reasoning, visual-spatial skills, working memory, and processing speed, to create a picture of your child’s unique cognitive strengths and areas of difficulty.
IQ testing can help parents and educators better understand how a child learns and can provide useful information for educational planning, school placement, gifted program eligibility, or as part of a more comprehensive evaluation.
Common reasons families seek IQ testing:
Gifted program eligibility or academic enrichment
School placement or educational planning
Private school admissions that require cognitive testing
Understanding learning strengths and challenges
Supporting an IEP or 504 Plan
As part of a comprehensive psychoeducational evaluation
Updated cognitive testing when previous results are outdated or additional information is needed
Understanding the Process:
IQ testing provides information about how your child approaches different types of thinking and problem-solving. Results can highlight areas of cognitive strength and areas that may require additional support, helping parents and educators better understand how a child learns.
You’ll receive a clear, professional report documenting your child’s cognitive testing results. The report explains the findings in parent-friendly language and, when appropriate, includes recommendations to help you understand and support your child’s learning needs. You’ll have all the documentation needed for public or private school program admissions.
What is an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE)?
An Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) is an evaluation of a student's educational, psychological, or behavioral needs conducted by a qualified examiner who is not employed by the school district.
Parents may request an IEE when they disagree with the results, conclusions, or recommendations of an evaluation conducted by their child’s public school team during the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process.
An IEE may be the right step if:
You have concerns about the results of a school district evaluation
You feel the evaluation did not fully capture your child’s strengths or needs
Your child’s current challenges are not reflected in their evaluation results
You have questions about your child’s eligibility for special education services
You believe your child may need additional or different supports
You want an independent perspective to better understand your child’s educational needs
Your child’s needs have changed since their last evaluation
Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs)
If you have concerns about the results of a school district evaluation or feel that the assessment did not fully capture your child’s strengths, needs, or educational experience, you may have the right to request an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE). An IEE is an evaluation conducted by a qualified professional who is independent of the school district and can provide an additional perspective on your child’s learning and educational needs. When certain requirements are met, an IEE may be provided at the districts expense.
A fresh look at your child’s needs:
Your evaluation report provides an independent, comprehensive look at your child’s strengths, needs, and educational functioning. Findings are clearly explained in parent-friendly language and include individualized recommendations to help guide educational planning and support.
When appropriate, the report may include diagnostic impressions, relevant special education eligibility considerations, and specific recommendations for school-based supports. The report can be shared with your child’s school team and used to inform IEP discussions or other educational decision-making.
Following the evaluation, we’ll meet for a one-hour feedback session to review the findings, answer your questions, and ensure you feel confident understanding the results and next steps.
Preschool Evaluations
A preschool evaluation provides a comprehensive look at how your young child is learning, developing, and navigating the world around them. By examining areas such as cognitive development, early learning skills, attention, language, social-emotional functioning, and adaptive skills, we can identify your child’s strengths and better understand areas where they may need additional support.
Understand your Preschooler’s Developmental Profile:
Map child’s unique developmental profile
Identify strengths that can be used to support areas of difficulty
Explore concerns related to learning, attention, communication, behavior, or development
Consider how your child’s skills compare with age-based expectations
Gather information from parents, caregivers, and educational providers
Evaluation Components:
Use developmentally appropriate assessment methods
Evaluate cognitive, academic, language, attention, executive functioning, and social-emotional skills, as appropriate
Integrate testing results with developmental history and real-world observations
Identify patterns of strengths and weaknesses
Determine factors that may be affecting your child’s learning and development
Clear Answers & Next Steps:
Receive a comprehensive, strength-based report written in parent-friendly language
Understand what your child’s results mean and how they impact everyday functioning
Receive individualized recommendations for home and school
Identify practical strategies, supports, and interventions
Discuss next steps for accessing appropriate educational services and supports
IEP/504 Behavior Support Consultation & Advocacy
Navigating the behavioral needs of your child at home is challenging enough. If you have school professionals reaching out regarding problem behaviors at school and I can help provide guidance and support recommendations for your child’s IEP or 504 plan.
Build Practical Behavior Supports
We’ll identify individualized strategies and supports that can be incorporated into your child’s IEP or 504 Plan. Recommendations are designed to be realistic, proactive, and focused on helping your child succeed across their school day.
Feel Confident Advocating for Your Child
You don’t have to navigate IEP or 504 meetings alone. I’ll help you understand your child’s behavioral needs, prepare for school meetings, and advocate for appropriate supports and accommodations that address those needs.
Understand the Why Behind the Behavior
Behavior is communication. I’ll help you understand what may be contributing to your child’s behaviors at school and identify patterns, triggers, and unmet needs that may be affecting their ability to learn and participate.
What is IEP and 504 Plan Support?
IEPs and 504 Plans can be difficult to understand and even harder to navigate on your own. I provide parent-focused consultation to help you understand your child’s needs, make sense of evaluation results and school recommendations, and prepare for meetings with confidence. Together, we can identify areas where your child may benefit from additional supports, accommodations, or services.
This service may be right for you if:
You’re unsure whether your child’s current supports are meeting their needs
You have questions about your child’s IEP or 504 Plan
You’re preparing for an upcoming IEP or 504 meeting
Your child’s needs have changed and their plan may need to be updated
You want help understanding evaluation results and recommendations
You’re having difficulty communicating your concerns with the school team
You want an experienced professional to help you prepare and advocate effectively
IEP and 504 Plan Support
If you have ever left an IEP meeting feeling uncertain about what was just agreed to, or unsure whether your child is actually getting what they need, you are not alone. I help families cut through the confusion and make sure the plan reflects what your child truly needs.
Support that makes a difference:
You know your child best. My role is to help you understand the educational process, translate complex information into clear language, and identify meaningful supports that align with your child’s individual strengths and needs. With the right information and preparation, you can walk into school meetings feeling informed, prepared, and confident in advocating for your child.
College & Testing Accommodations Evaluations
Accommodations are not about giving a student an advantage—they are about providing appropriate support so students and adults with learning differences have an equitable opportunity to demonstrate what they know and can do. Whether you are preparing for a college entrance exam, requesting accommodations through a college or university, or pursuing a graduate or professional licensing exam, thorough and current documentation is often an important part of the process. This evaluation provides the comprehensive information needed to help document your individual needs and support accommodation requests.
What is a College & Testing Accommodations Evaluation?
A College & Testing Accommodations Evaluation helps determine whether a student may benefit from accommodations in college, on standardized exams, or in other educational settings. The evaluation looks at how a student’s learning, attention, processing, or other documented needs may affect their ability to access and demonstrate their knowledge under standard testing conditions.
The evaluation provides clear documentation of the student’s functional needs and individualized recommendations for appropriate accommodations, such as extended time, a reduced-distraction setting, or other supports. It can help students and families better understand what accommodations may support their success as they transition into higher education.
This Evaluation May Benefit:
Students preparing to transition to college
Students who previously received IEP or 504 accommodations
Students who need documentation to request college accommodations
Students experiencing challenges with attention, processing speed, memory, reading, writing, or other learning needs
Students preparing for standardized or college entrance exams
Students whose current accommodations need to be reviewed or updated
Students who want to better understand what supports may help them succeed in college
Results that advocate for your needs:
A comprehensive written report summarizing your evaluation results, strengths, needs, and recommended accommodations
Clear documentation of functional needs and how they may impact academic or testing performance
Individualized accommodation recommendations based on your assessment results and educational needs
A one-hour feedback session to review the findings, answer questions, and discuss recommended next steps
Guidance on using your documentation when requesting accommodations from a college, university, or testing organization
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a psychoeducational evaluation and a school neuropsychological evaluation?
Both evaluations provide a comprehensive look at how a student learns and functions, but a school neuropsychological evaluation takes a deeper look at the brain-based processes that influence learning.
A psychoeducational evaluation typically examines cognitive abilities, academic skills, and social-emotional functioning, while a school neuropsychological evaluation may provide additional insight into areas such as attention, memory, executive functioning, language, processing, and visual-spatial skills. The evaluation approach is tailored to the individual’s concerns and referral questions.
Can you evaluate for concerns related to ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, or dyscalculia?
Yes. I provide comprehensive evaluations for children, adolescents, and adults with concerns related to ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia, as well as other learning and neurodevelopmental differences.
Evaluations are designed to identify patterns of strengths and challenges, clarify what may be contributing to difficulties, and provide practical recommendations for support at school, home, or work.
What is the difference between a school evaluation and a private evaluation?
School evaluations are conducted by the school to determine educational needs and eligibility for special education services. A private evaluation can provide an independent, comprehensive perspective and may offer more detailed information about your child’s learning and neurocognitive profile.
Can I request an evaluation if my child already has an IEP or 504 Plan?
Yes. An evaluation can provide additional information about your child’s current strengths and needs, particularly when existing supports are not fully addressing their difficulties or when you have questions about their learning profile.
How long does an evaluation take?
The length of an evaluation depends on the individual and the questions being addressed. After an initial consultation, I will explain what the evaluation process will involve, including testing, interviews, questionnaires, and feedback.
How do I know if my child needs an evaluation?
An evaluation may be helpful when your child is struggling academically, behaviorally, socially, or emotionally despite receiving appropriate support. It can help identify underlying learning, attention, developmental, or neuropsychological factors and clarify what support may be needed.
Let's talk
info@SDedpsych.com
(619) 786-1089
