Psychological Assessments for Children, Teens and Adults
It’s not always easy to understand why you or your child may be having difficulties with learning, attention, behaviour, emotions or everyday activities. A psychological assessment can help provide a clearer picture of what may be contributing to these challenges, as well as highlight individual strengths and areas where additional support may be helpful.
At Rising People Psychology, we provide psychological assessments for children aged 12 and over, teenagers and adults. We take an individual approach to each assessment and look at areas such as attention, learning, cognitive abilities, development and behaviour based on your specific concerns.
We offer a range of assessments, including Autism, ADHD, Specific Learning Disorder, giftedness, intellectual disability, and developmental and behavioural assessments.
If you’re thinking about having an assessment for yourself or your child but aren’t sure where to begin, our team is happy to discuss your concerns and help you understand which assessment may be suitable for your needs.
What Is a Psychological Assessment?
A psychological assessment is a process that helps us better understand a person’s thoughts, behaviour, learning, development and overall functioning. It involves looking at different types of information, talking with the individual and, where appropriate, using standardised assessment tools.
The goal is to build a clearer picture of a person’s strengths, challenges and areas where they may benefit from additional support.
Depending on the type of assessment and the individual, the process may include:
- An initial discussion about the reason for the assessment
- Gathering relevant background and developmental information
- Completing appropriate psychological assessment tools
- Clinical interviews and discussions
- Information from parents, carers, teachers or other professionals where relevant
- Reviewing and interpreting the assessment results
- A feedback session to explain and discuss the findings
- A written assessment report, where applicable
Every assessment is different, so the process and number of appointments will depend on the type of assessment being completed and your individual circumstances.
Types of Psychological Assessments We Provide
At Rising People Psychology, we offer a range of psychological assessments for children aged 12 and over, teenagers and adults. Each assessment is tailored to the individual and the concerns or questions you would like to better understand.
Autism Assessments
An Autism assessment can help provide a better understanding of an individual’s experiences and whether they may meet the criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder.
The assessment may look at areas such as social communication, interactions with others, behaviour, sensory experiences and patterns of interests or activities.
An Autism assessment can be helpful if you or your child have questions about certain experiences or behaviours and would like a clearer understanding of individual strengths, challenges and support needs.
Autism assessments may be suitable for children, teenagers and adults, depending on their individual circumstances.
ADHD Assessments
An ADHD assessment can help explore ongoing difficulties with attention, concentration, impulsivity, hyperactivity or executive functioning.
The assessment may also look at how these challenges affect different areas of everyday life, such as school, work, relationships and daily activities.
An ADHD assessment can be helpful for children, teenagers or adults who have ongoing concerns around attention, organisation, focus, managing tasks or impulse control.
Specific Learning Disorder Assessments
A Specific Learning Disorder assessment can help identify difficulties that may be affecting a person’s learning in areas such as reading, writing or mathematics.
The assessment can provide a clearer understanding of an individual’s learning strengths and areas where they may need additional support.
For children and teenagers, the results may also help parents, carers and educators better understand their learning needs and consider appropriate strategies or support.
Giftedness Assessments
A giftedness assessment can provide a better understanding of an individual’s cognitive abilities, strengths and learning profile.
For children and teenagers, understanding their cognitive strengths can help parents and educators consider whether additional learning opportunities, enrichment or other educational support may be beneficial.
The assessment can also provide useful information about how an individual learns and where their particular strengths may lie.
Intellectual Disability Assessments
An intellectual disability assessment looks at areas such as cognitive and adaptive functioning to help develop a better understanding of an individual’s abilities and support needs.
The assessment can provide useful information about strengths, everyday functioning and areas where additional support may be needed.
The assessment process will vary depending on the individual’s age, circumstances and the reason for seeking an assessment.
Developmental and Behavioural Assessments
Developmental and behavioural assessments can help explore concerns relating to a person’s development, behaviour, emotional regulation and everyday functioning.
These assessments may be helpful when parents, carers or other professionals have concerns about a child’s or young person’s development or behaviour and would like a clearer understanding of what they may be experiencing and how they can be supported.
If you’re unsure which type of psychological assessment may be appropriate, our team can discuss your concerns with you and help you understand the available options.
Who Can Benefit From a Psychological Assessment?
A psychological assessment can be helpful when you have questions or concerns about learning, attention, development, behaviour, cognitive abilities or everyday functioning.
At Rising People Psychology, we provide assessments for:
- Children aged 12 and over
- Teenagers
- Adults
- Families who want to better understand their child’s needs
- Individuals who would like to explore possible neurodivergence
- People experiencing ongoing difficulties with attention, learning or everyday activities
You don’t need to know exactly what type of assessment you need before getting in touch with us. If you’re unsure where to start, our team can listen to your concerns, answer your questions and help you understand which options may be suitable for you or your child.
Why Consider a Psychological Assessment?
There are many different reasons why you or your child may consider having a psychological assessment. For some people, it can help provide answers to questions they’ve had for a while and give them a better understanding of their experiences.
A psychological assessment may help you:
- Better understand your strengths and areas of difficulty
- Explore concerns related to Autism or ADHD
- Understand learning difficulties and individual learning needs
- Identify areas where additional support may be helpful
- Gain a clearer understanding of cognitive abilities and functioning
- Provide information that may be useful for educational planning
- Better understand developmental or behavioural concerns
- Develop practical recommendations and strategies to support everyday life
A psychological assessment isn’t only about receiving a diagnosis. It can also provide a more complete picture of how a person thinks, learns, communicates and manages different situations in everyday life. This information can help you better understand what support may be useful moving forward.
What Happens During a Psychological Assessment?
How Long Does a Psychological Assessment Take?
The length of a psychological assessment can vary depending on the type of assessment, your individual circumstances and the amount of information that needs to be gathered.
Some assessments may be completed in one appointment, while others may require several sessions. This allows your psychologist enough time to gather and review the relevant information and develop a clear understanding of your needs.
When you enquire about an assessment, our team can explain what the process involves, how many appointments may be needed and the fees involved.
Online and Face-to-Face Assessments
We understand that everyone has different needs and preferences when it comes to accessing psychological services. Depending on the type of assessment and your individual circumstances, assessments may be available online or face-to-face.
Online Assessments
Online assessments can be a convenient option for eligible clients who live outside our face-to-face service areas, have a busy schedule or prefer to attend appointments from the comfort of their own home.
Face-to-Face Assessments
Face-to-face assessment appointments are available for clients in our NSW service areas. Meeting with your psychologist in person may be recommended depending on the type of assessment and what is required during the assessment process.
Not every assessment is suitable for online delivery. Your psychologist will discuss the available options with you and recommend the most appropriate format based on the type of assessment, your needs and your individual circumstances.
Psychological Assessments for Children and Teenagers
A psychological assessment can help parents, carers and other professionals gain a better understanding of a child or teenager’s strengths, challenges and individual support needs.
Depending on the type of assessment, we may gather information from parents or carers, and where appropriate, teachers or other professionals involved in the young person’s education or care. This can help provide a more complete picture of their experiences and how they are managing in different areas of their life.
Our psychologists aim to make the assessment process as comfortable and supportive as possible. We take the young person’s individual needs, circumstances and comfort into consideration throughout the assessment.
Psychological Assessments for Adults
Adults may consider a psychological assessment for many different reasons. You may have experienced ongoing challenges with attention, learning, communication, behaviour or other areas of everyday life and want to better understand what may be contributing to them.
An assessment can provide more insight into these experiences and help identify individual strengths, areas of difficulty and possible support needs.
If you’ve been wondering whether a psychological assessment could help you better understand some of the challenges you’ve experienced, our team is happy to discuss your concerns, answer your questions and explain the assessment options available.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psychological Assessments
When should Autism and ADHD assessments be conducted?
Assessments can be conducted at any age, but early assessment is crucial for early intervention and support.
Is there a cure for Autism and ADHD?
There is no cure, but early intervention and support can significantly improve the individual’s quality of life.
Can adults be assessed for Autism and ADHD?
Yes, adults can undergo assessments if they suspect they have these conditions or are experiencing challenges related to them.
How long does the assessment process usually take?
The assessment process can vary depending on the individual’s unique circumstances, but it typically takes several sessions to gather comprehensive data.
Considering a Psychological Assessment?
If you or your child are experiencing difficulties with learning, attention, behaviour, development or other areas of everyday life, a psychological assessment may help provide a clearer understanding of what is happening.
You don’t need to know exactly which assessment you need before contacting us. Our team can listen to your concerns, explain the available options and help you determine the appropriate next step.
Contact Rising People Psychology to enquire about psychological assessments.
A member of our team will get back to you within 48 hours to discuss your enquiry and the next steps.
For appointments and inquiries, you can contact us at 1800 878 883 or email us at info@risingpeoplepsychology.com.au so we can discuss further.
You can also leave your contact information below and we will reach out to you within 48 hours.