CFA Psychologists facilitate a range of assessment services tailored to meet the needs of children, teenagers, adults and their families. Assessments are often needed when there are questions about a particular child, teenager or adult’s emotional, behavioral or academic functioning. CFA Psychologists tailor each evaluation to a particular client’s needs– we do not work from a ‘standard battery’ approach. Rather, we fine-tune the assessment to measure what we are asked to assess. This approach is both cost effective and saves time. CFA Psychologists & clinicians are available to meet with school personnel to explain test findings and recommendations.
Admissions Testing for Independent Schools
CFA Psychologists are available to conduct neuropsychological and cognitive testing measures that many private schools require as part of their application processes. We not only facilitate the measures, but we are also available to answer any questions the school admissions office may have regarding our test findings and recommendations. We are typically able to complete this process and prepare a report within three weeks of the initial testing session. The admissions testing protocol includes:
- Clinical interviews with the child, teenager and parents
- Neuropsychological and cognitive measures such as the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI), Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Fourth Edition (WISC-IV), Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Fourth Edition (WAIS- IV)
- Rating scales, as requested by the school, such as the Behavior Assessment System for Children—Second Edition (BASC-II), Connors Rating Scale- Revised (CRS-R), Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) etc.
- Written report with cover letter
Psychoeducational Assessment
CFA Psychologists are skilled at conducting psychological and educational measures used to assess a particular child or teens cognitive functioning and its impact on academic performance. This type of assessment is typically requested when there is concern about the child’s progress in school or about the presence of a learning difficultly or disability (LD). Often, the child also exhibits challenges with planning, memory, organization, attention/concentration, starting tasks, and regulating emotion. These are all factors commonly known as areas of ‘executive functioning,’ often associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
CFA Psychologists are typically able to complete this process and prepare a written report within forty-five days of the last testing session. We are also available to review our findings with schools and facilitate any informal or formal accommodation process, including Individualized Education Plans or 504 Accommodation processes, triggered by our test results.
The psycho-educational testing protocol includes:
- Clinical interviews with the child, teenager and parents
- Neuropsychological and measures that assess strengths and weaknesses, such as the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI), Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Fourth Edition (WISC-IV), Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Fourth Edition (WAIS- IV)
- Rating scales, such as Behavior Assessment System for Children—Second Edition (BASC-II), Connors Rating Scale- Revised (CRS-R), Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) etc.
- Tests of achievement that assess strengths and weaknesses, such as the Woodcock Johnson-Third Edition (WJ-III), Wechsler Individual Achievement Test—Third Edition (WIAT-III)
- Tests that measure memory, reading ability, or other discrete areas of functioning
- Written report with cover letter, which provides recommendations tailored to address the child’s specific academic or social functioning needs
Comprehensive Psychological Evaluation
CFA Psychologists have expertise in conducting comprehensive measures used to not only assess cognitive functioning and its impact on occupational and academic performance, but also assess emotional, behavioral or personality functioning that may also contribute to the adult, child or teen’s occupational, academic and/or emotional instability. Typically, these assessments are requested for an individual who has been in treatment for quite some time and the treating provider’s desire clarification of a particular diagnosis, or the client’s course of treatment. Parents and schools often seek a comprehensive psychological evaluation for children or teenagers when there has been a pattern of academic and emotional instability that has not resolved and there are questions about the child’s accommodations at school or his or her treatment plan with an outpatient provider.
CFA Psychologists are typically able to complete this process and prepare a written report within forty-five days of the last testing session. We are also available to review our findings with other providers and schools and facilitate any informal or formal accommodation process triggered by our test results.
The Comprehensive Psychological Evaluation testing protocol includes:
- Clinical interviews with the child, teenager and parents
- Neuropsychological and cognitive measures that assess strengths and weaknesses, such as the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI), Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Fourth Edition (WISC-IV), Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Fourth Edition (WAIS- IV)
- Rating scales, such as Behavior Assessment System for Children—Second Edition (BASC-II), Connors Rating Scale- Revised (CRS-R), Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) etc.
- Tests of achievement that assess strengths and weaknesses, such as the Woodcock Johnson-Third Edition (WJ-III), Wechsler Individual Achievement Test—Third Edition (WIAT-III)
- Tests that measure memory, reading ability, or other discrete areas of functioning, as needed
- Tests that measure the individual’s coping, emotional regulation, social skills, capacity for insight, and level of safety.
- Written report with cover letter, which provides recommendations tailored to address the individual’s specific emotional, occupational, academic or social functioning needs.
Brief Mental Health Assessment & ADHD Screening
CFA Psychologists are known for their skill at facilitating a combination of clinical interviews and psychological measures to assist general practice physicians, nurses, pediatricians, other mental health providers, and schools in developing treatment plans for particular adults, children and teenagers. We often receive referrals to rapidly asses an individual via this method, which may provide provisional diagnosis and recommendations for treatment. This method of assessment is most indicated when there are relatively minor concerns about the individual’s functioning but there is a need to gain a better understanding of potential underlying factors impeding the client’s progress. Moreover, these assessments are tailored to meet the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for the assessment of child and adolescent mental health issues.
CFA psychologists are typically able to complete this process and prepare a written consult letter within fourteen days of the last clinical interview. We are also available to review our findings with other providers and schools and facilitate any informal or formal accommodation process triggered by our assessment findings.
Brief Mental Health Assessment & ADHD Screening protocol includes:
- Clinical interviews with the adult, child, teenager and parents
- Review of reported evidence of emotional and/or executive functioning from multiple sources
- Tailored behavioral recommendations for adults, parents and schools
- Written consultation letter to the referral source, which provides recommendations tailored to address the individual’s specific emotional, occupational, academic or social functioning needs as indicated
For more information about CFA Assessment & Evaluation services, please call
Dr. Steve Harner at 703-533-3930 and press extension 1 for new referrals. In doing so,
Dr. Harner will promptly receive your inquiry and will make every effort to return your call within 48 hours.