Frequently Asked Questions

For your first session, you may be asked to come in a little early to fill out some forms if you have not already done so. It is normal to feel a little anxious in the first few sessions as you may not know what to expect. Trust us and we will help and guide you through ever step. Be assured that we will set the tone and get things started smoothly. We are a team of professionals who are trained to guide each session in effective ways to help you get closer to your goals.

The first session might seem like a game of 20 questions and will typically involve asking you a series of questions to find out pertinent history and background information. We will also orient you to the nature of our services (e.g., confidentiality issues, frequency of sessions, cost, etc.). If you feel that bringing a parent/spouse/relative/friend will help facilitate the process better, please feel free to bring him/her along with you! We want your experience to be a warm and welcoming one.

Once we have a full history, recommendations will be made for either an assessment, therapy or referral to another professional (who will be better suited to meet your individual needs). We will work together to create a treatment plan. This collaborative goal-setting is important, because both you and your psychologist need to be invested in achieving your goals. At the end of your first session, your psychologist may also have suggestions for immediate action.

Most of us face struggles at some point in our lives. These struggles may include stress in school or at work, difficulty with a peer, or problems with a family member. Alternatively, struggles may include emotional symptoms such as depression or anxiety, behavioral, and cognitive symptoms such as repetitive upsetting thoughts or uncontrolled worry. Sometimes, life's struggles can be eased by taking better care of yourself, and perhaps talking about the issues with a supportive friend or family member. But there may be times when these steps do not resolve the issue. When this happens, it may be worthwhile to consider seeking the help of a qualified licensed psychologist.

Two general guidelines can be helpful when considering whether you or someone you love could benefit from therapy: Is the problem distressing? Is it interfering with some aspect of life?

The decision to enter into therapy is a very personal one. Individuals may feel nervous about trying it themselves. Overcoming that nervousness is worth it. Any time one’s quality of life is being impacted, psychotherapy will be worth the time and effort.

Numerous advances have been made in the treatment of psychological disorders in the past decade and many therapies have been shown scientifically to be helpful. Many psychological problems have been shown to be treatable using short-term therapy approaches. You do not need to continue to struggle with a problem that is upsetting and/or getting in the way of your life. Help is available.

Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is a way to help people with a broad variety of mental illnesses, challenging life events and emotional difficulties.

Psychotherapy may be conducted in an individual, family, couple, or group setting, and can help both children and adults. When working with children and adolescents, we encourage that parents are actively involved in the therapeutic process. Sessions are typically held once a week for about 50 minutes. Both the client and psychologist need to be actively involved in psychotherapy. The trust and relationship between a client and the psychologist is essential to working effectively.

Psychotherapy can be short-term (a few sessions), dealing with immediate issues, or long-term (months or years), dealing with longstanding and complex issues. The goals of treatment and arrangements for how often and how long to meet are planned jointly by the client and psychologist. Confidentiality is a basic requirement of psychotherapy.

Psychologists and other mental health professionals use several types of therapy; including cognitive-behavioural, interpersonal and other kinds of talk/expressive therapy. The choice of therapy type depends on the client’s presenting problem and circumstances and his/her preference. Psychologists may combine elements from different approaches to best meet the needs of the person receiving treatment. Psychotherapy may be used in combination with medication or other therapies.

Research shows that most individuals who receive psychotherapy experience symptom relief and are better able to function in their lives. Psychotherapy has been shown to improve emotions and behaviors and to be linked with positive changes in the brain and body. The benefits also include fewer sick days, less disability, fewer medical problems, and increased school/work/life satisfaction. With the use of brain imaging techniques researchers have been able to see changes in the brain after a person has undergone psychotherapy.

Diagnoses allow your psychologist to better understand the individual needs. Through a clearer understanding of the unique strengths and weaknesses, your psychologist would be able to identify treatment modalities that are evidenced based and, shown to be helpful and efficient. Furthermore, diagnoses do not go onto any kind of database and ought to be reviewed on a timely basis. A diagnosis is not about applying a label to a problem; it is about discovering solutions, treatments, and information related to the problem.

Psychological evaluation is often helpful in understanding the strengths and challenges an individual may have in their cognitive, behavioral, learning and socio-emotional functioning. The psychological assessment process allows for diagnostic clarity and individualized recommendations. Often individuals who are struggling with managing their behavior, academic work, social interactions, and emotion regulation have atypical neurological development that can be identified through psychological assessment.

In many ways, psychological testing and assessment are similar to medical tests. If a patient has physical symptoms, a primary care provider may order X-rays or blood tests to understand what is causing those symptoms. The results of the tests will help inform develop a treatment plan. Psychological evaluations serve the same purpose. Psychologists use tests and other assessment tools to measure and observe an individual's behavior to arrive at a diagnosis and guide treatment. It is important to remember that “one size fits all” is not an approach that is applicable to the treatment of psychological disorders and problems. For children and adolescents, this further allows for parents, teachers, and therapists to provide intervention and accommodations needed to allow each child to reach their potential.

There are ways that families can help set the stage for a more positive assessment experience for both child and parents. In reviewing the following points, we would ask that you fully consider the individual needs of your child in determining a preparation plan that will best support your child in producing a more optimal performance.

1. Preview

• Talk with your child about where you are going, whom you will be seeing, and what you will be doing during the assessment.
• For example, if your assessment will take place in our clinic, you can access our website and look at pictures of the team who will be involved in your child’s assessment.
• The words “testing” and “assessment” may be aversive or meaningless for many children – we recommend use of statements such as “you will be doing lots of different things together, kind of like puzzles and games.”
• Let your child know that the people will be friendly, the setting will be comfortable, and that s/he or she can take breaks if they need to while they are here.

2. Be physically and emotionally prepared

Avoid planning non-routine events on the evening prior to the assessment if possible.

On the day of the assessment:

• Ensure your child will be well-rested and physically well on the day of the evaluation.
• Make the assessment day a stress-free day for your child.
• Ensure your child has eaten.
• Your child may like to bring a snack and drink to the session.
• Allow your child to bring an object that may help increase their sense of safety and security. Try to choose an object that will not be too distracting for the child (e.g., a small stuffed animal).

3. Outline positive expectations

• It is easy to fall into the trap of outlining what we do not want from a child when preparing for an upcoming event, resulting in a list of anxiety-producing “don’ts” in the child’s mind.
• Restate a “don’t” into a “do”.
• Use vaguely-stated positive expectations such as “work as hard as you can”.

4. Relax and let the process unfold

• We know it is easier said than done.
• Many children are hyper-attuned to the emotional states of their parents and will show signs of anxiety if parents give out those signals.
• Try to let go of any desire or expectation of performance.

Testing is a process. If the purpose of the assessment is to arrive to a diagnosis (to better understand strengths and needs), it is likely that testing will occur over 6-12 hours. Diagnostic assessments ensure that the diagnosis is based on objective tools rather than purely impressions or personal opinions. Psychologists look at profiles across the test batteries chosen as opposed to findings based on individual tests; these profiles are based on clinical research on neuropsychological processes.

The tests that are used to assess children and adolescents are specially designed for their respective age. These assessments are not like “actual” tests and they cannot be prepared for (i.e. through studying). In other words, the materials used during testing are developed keeping in mind the interests of the client and, ensuring that they will be engaging and appealing. Most of the tests are designed as puzzles and some are even available as computer games.

In most instances, children enjoy some of the test materials that are provided to them. We recognize that all children are different and some may find the assessment process to be more stressful than others.

At Psych Connect, we are dedicated to ensuring that the testing environment is comfortable and your child’s emotional needs are met. It is not uncommon for us to take breaks and even to play games prior to testing so as to build a relationship with your child and ease into the test. For very young children, parents can also accompany their child during the testing session.

Should you have worries about your child’s emotional wellbeing during the assessment, raise it with us and, we can explore a collaborative plan to support you and your child during the testing process.