The Psychoeducational Department at the Center for Psychological Services has provided evaluative and consultative services to the community for over 40 years. Individuals from infancy to older adulthood benefit from our services. To respond, we offer a variety of integrated, wide-ranging services:
- Comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations for learning, attention, executive functioning, and adjustment issues
- Specific assessments to address academic performance, ADHD, behavioral and psychological functioning, and autism spectrum disorder
- Required testing for admission to private schools
- Consultations regarding educational planning, options, and interventions
- Career Counseling
Please contact Dr. Charna Axelrod, Director, Psychoeducational Department at 610.642.4873 ext. 314 charnaaxelrod@gmail.com.
Comprehensive Evaluation
Multi-Step Assessment Sequence for a Comprehensive Psychoeducational Evaluation
The clinicians in our Psychoeducational Department administer a variety of tests designed to respond to issues regarding a student’s academic performance, executive functioning, and social/emotional issues. When conducting a comprehensive evaluation, our clinicians look carefully at a multitude of areas that affect one’s functioning, gathering the rich information necessary to make an accurate diagnosis and provide a thorough profile of how a student learns and/or operates in the world. They then make recommendations and offer specific strategies based on the findings. To accomplish this, the following elements are incorporated into our evaluations:
- Parents are asked to complete a detailed developmental history questionnaire providing information regarding the child’s physical and social development.
- Parents also meet with the clinician, who will evaluate the student to offer further impressions.
- The clinician reviews available school reports, previous evaluations, and other pertinent data regarding the student’s academic, medical, and social development.
- With the parents’ consent, the clinician speaks with the student’s teacher and, when indicated, visits the school to observe how the student functions in the classroom. The child’s teacher is asked to complete evaluation forms and questionnaires regarding academic performance, behavior, executive functioning, attention, classroom interaction, etc.
- If applicable, and with the parents’ consent, conversations will also be held with the student’s tutor, therapist, physician, and other involved individuals.
- The formal evaluation may take place over several sessions, as the clinician works at the child’s pace and administers sufficient tests to obtain a thorough understanding of the student. Thus, meetings typically range from six to nine hours.
- The student receives an individually administered battery of tests to measure intellectual ability, perceptual and perceptual-motor functioning, language and processing skills, executive functioning, academic achievement, learning style, visual and auditory memory, attention and concentration, and social/emotional adjustment. When indicated, measures to explore the possibility of an autism spectrum disorder are administered.
- Following the assessment, the parents meet with the evaluator to discuss the findings and recommendations.
- The student also has an individual session to learn the results and learn the recommendations.
- The clinician provides a thorough written report that includes recommendations for the teachers, parents, and professionals who work directly with the child.
- Parents are asked to read the report before signing a consent form that allows others to read it.
- The clinician is available to speak to those who will be involved with the student and answer any questions that may be raised from the findings and/or the report.
ADDRESSES & PHONE NUMBERS
Dr. Charna Axelrod, Ed.D. NCSP
Rosemont Plaza, Suite 1
1062 East Lancaster Avenue, Rosemont, PA 19010
Tel: 610.642.4873 Ext. 314
Dr. Jennifer Jackson Holden, PsyD.
Paoli Executive Green, Building 1, Suite 304
41 Leopard Road, Paoli, PA 19301
Tel: 610.647.6406 Ext. 3| Fax: 610.407.0302