The LodeStone Center offers in depth psychological evaluations and testing for most issues in children ages six and above. It is not uncommon for therapist or other medical providers to refer people for testing to help find a clear diagnosis and provide treatment recommendations. We have a number of Clinical Psychologists that can provide these services. If you would like more information, or would like to request a testing intake with a Psychologist, you can either fill out the contact form on this page and we will get in touch with you or you can also call us directly at 847-802-4058.
What Kinds of Issues Are Referred?
In children, there are a number of issues that could lead someone to refer them for testing. Psychologists have the luxury of spending a significant amount of time assessing a person’s history, current functioning, and administering tests when needed to measure symptom severity. When symptom patterns could be one of many disorders, or when a person is experiencing a complex combination of problems, diagnostic testing can help provide a clear picture of what various factors are contributing to a person’s difficulty. ADHD, Autism Spectrum, Mood Disorders, Cognitive Difficulties, Behavioral Difficulties, and Giftedness are just a few of the issues that testing can focus on.
What Does the Testing Involve?
Typically diagnostic testing involves a couple of visits to the clinic. An initial interview is conducted with the parents and can include the child depending on age and presenting issue, and based on that visit, a series of tests are put together to help answer the questions raised by your medical professional or therapist. You and your child will return to the clinic to complete face-to-face tests, computerized testing or complete some questionnaires, depending on what is needed. After the data has been compiled, scored and interpreted, a detailed report is written (this process usually takes about a week), and you’ll meet with the Psychologist for a session to learn about the results, and incorporate those into your child’s overall care. The referring physician, school, or therapist will also be contacted, and recieve a copy of the results, along with recommendations for treatment.
How is This Useful to Therapists?
When you participate in therapy, detailed assessment of your mental health symptoms and personality traits can be very useful in giving your therapist the most information possible to help. Psychological testing can provide a lot of information in a short amount of time, saving weeks of therapy sessions devoted to learning about your personality style and symptom trends. It can also help distinguish between multiple clinical disorders that seem very similar, which helps your therapist accurately formulate a plan to help relieve your distress quickly.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding psychological testing for your child, please don’t hesitate to call and speak with one of our psychologists. We are happy to answer questions, help look into your insurance benefits or explain how counseling might be beneficial to you. If you have questions, and would like to speak to one of our mental health professionals, contact us today.