What services do we offer at Encompass?
Neuropsychological Assessment
Perhaps you or a family member has suffered a concussion or a traumatic brain injury. Or maybe you are concerned about changes in your memory as you age. A neuropsychological assessment is useful to identify the cognitive consequences of brain injury, brain disease, or severe mental illness. Through formal testing, we examine many areas of cognitive functioning, including memory and learning, attention and concentration, perception, language, visual processing, and higher-level executive cognitive skills, specifically organization, planning and problem solving. We also examine learning and academic skills for those who are still in school or planning to return to school. Self-reports of functioning, as well as observations of performance during the testing itself, are also critically important pieces of information.
Brain illness and injury may also cause significant difficulties with behaviour and adjustment that impact on relationships and performance in school or workplace settings. So, in some cases, we include an evaluation of behaviour and emotional adjustment to better understand how someone is coping in the face of challenges and stresses.
With this information we build a personalized picture that illustrates not just the challenges, but also the strengths and aptitudes, to guide the treatments and interventions that are needed to promote recovery and maximize function. We share these findings, conclusions and recommendations in a feedback meeting and prepare a comprehensive report that directs treatment, rehabilitation and educational supports.
Psychological Assessment
A psychological assessment can also be provided for those who express concern about their emotional or psychological well-being. This kind of assessment involves completing different questionnaires and providing detailed clinical and historical information to the examiner. A detailed report summarizing the conclusions of this assessment and recommendations for treatment can be provided, as needed.
Psychoeducational Assessment
At Encompass, we evaluate your child’s learning experiences from a neurodevelopmental perspective. This specialized focus enhances understanding of the key processing abilities and foundational skills that underlie effective learning in the classroom.
A psychoeducational assessment is particularly helpful to determine if a child or adolescent has a learning disorder or ADHD. We examine overall intellectual ability and specific thinking skills, such as memory, learning and attention, and determine how well a child is building essential academic skills in reading, writing and mathematics. Parents and teachers directly contribute through interviews, comprehensive surveys and questionnaires. Taken together, we build a personalized picture that illustrates not just your child’s challenges, but also their strengths and aptitudes, promoting positive outcomes and maximizing learning opportunities.
Specific recommendations around treatment and educational planning are reviewed in a feedback meeting and a comprehensive report is prepared to assist your school in meeting your child’s needs.
Consultation
Our specialists are available to meet with you to discuss the results of assessments we complete, and to make this information understandable and meaningful. We believe that individuals need to be empowered to make informed decisions about their health and well-being and the more information you have, the better.
Often the results of assessments are useful to teachers or support staff at a school. A child’s teacher will need to know why, and more importantly, how to help a child to better manage and learn in the classroom setting.
Input to a physician can also help guide decisions around necessary treatments and interventions for persisting physical and other complaints, which are beyond our scope of practice to treat.
In addition, our specialists can meet with other treatment providers who may be involved in your care, such as Occupational Therapists, Speech Language therapists, Social Workers. Psychologists can play a very important role in helping to guide interventions and treatments that will promote improved functioning.
What can I expect when I first come to the office?
- We will first gather important personal information from you, such as your contact information. This information is held confidentially in our office (in keeping with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA)).
- You will spend some time meeting with the psychologist, discussing your concerns. The psychologist will also want to gather information about you past health, work and school history, as well as other details that are relevant to assessment and/or treatment. Often this appointment is about an hour in length, sometimes more, if needed. If the child is to be involved with our services, we will take some time to meet and talk with them also.
- We will review our policy around privacy and confidentiality with you when you first come in.
- We will discuss the plan of treatment or assessment with you in detail so that you know what is next. You will have lots of opportunities to ask questions and seek clarification.
- All details relating to payment for services will also be extensively reviewed. We provide receipts for services rendered.
- As we are registered healthcare service providers, your extended healthcare insurance may include coverage for services. Please inquire with your insurance provider for more information.
CONTACT US
Please submit your inquiry using the form below. You may expect a response within 3 business days.