By Jonathan Huffman
At Wellness Psychological Services we take a holistic approach when conducting our psychological and neuropsychological evaluations. We accomplish this by identifying areas for improvement and areas of strength. Researchers have noted the importance of identifying areas of strength during neuropsychological evaluations. These strengths may serve as compensatory strategies for areas of improvement (Silver et tal., 2008).
Therefore, when doing an evaluation, the psychologists at Wellness Psychological Services identify these strengths in our clients. They also encourage further development in these areas of functioning. Below you will find brief summaries of some of the assessments we provide and how we incorporate the identification of strengths for each person in psychological and neuropsychological testing and assessments.
Autism Spectrum Disorder Assessments
As a part of an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) evaluation, clients can expect to complete the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Fifth Edition (WISC-V)/Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule Second Edition (ADOS-2). These assessments allow us as practitioners to identify your areas of relative strength in intellectual functioning and social-emotional engagement. Therefore, these areas are celebrated and discussed in a manner that allows our testing clients to understand how to use their strengths to adaptively manage areas of improvement. Further, individuals with ASD often have special interest areas (historically called perseverative topics or fixated interests; Bross, et al., 2022). At Wellness Psychological Services we prefer special interest areas as our clinicians encourage further development in these areas and assist in finding adaptive outlets. For example, special interest areas may be used to:
- Encourage treatment compliance
- Guide treatment
- Inspire engagement in treatment
- Find employment
- Increase community engagement
- And foster social relationships (e.g., joining clubs that match their topic of interest)
Specific Learning Disorder Assessments
As a part of a specific learning disorder (SLD) evaluation, clients can expect to complete the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Fifth Edition (WISC-V)/Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) and the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test Fourth Edition (WIAT-4). Strengths in intellectual functioning and academic achievement are both identified and discussed as a means of supporting areas for improvement. Further, the individuals’ interests are applied to interventions to increase the identification of similar patterns across learning domains, such as using a client’s interest in music to identify parallels with music and math concepts. In addition, an individual’s interest can be applied to facilitate willingness to engage in less preferred tasks. For example, if an individual is passionate about sports, we may recommend teachers consider having the student write about sports to foster growth and improvement in spelling, sentence construction, and written expression (a historically less preferred task for the individual).
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Assessments
As a part of an attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) evaluation, clients can expect to complete the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Fifth Edition (WISC-V)/Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) and the NEPSY Second Edition (NEPSY-II)/ Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS). Our recommendations for testing related to difficulties with attention and hyperactivity/impulsivity typically involve constructing the environment effectively to encourage on-task behavior and reduce impulsivity. In addition, we encourage our clients to identify times when they can better focus on tasks and the factors contributing to their success. This often includes identifying and encouraging the use and application of specific environments, engaging with topics of interest, eating before select activities, and setting timers.
Emotional-Behavior Assessments and Personality Disorder Assessments
As a part of an emotional-behavior evaluation or personality disorder evaluation, clients can expect to complete the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Fifth Edition (WISC-V)/Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV). Additional assessments then include measures designed to examine your exact area of inquiry. Commonly used assessments at Wellness Psychological Services are the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI), Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory Second Edition (MMPI-2), and Behavior Assessment System for Children 3rd Edition (BASC-3).
Once assessments are completed, strength-based feedback is incorporated by identifying healthy coping mechanisms already in place and encouraging them. These may include an individual’s love for reading, working out, cooking, etc. We also identify healthy relationships and what makes them healthy (e.g., good communication/boundaries), while working to set similar boundaries/expectations in other relationships. Finally, we celebrate times when our clients have the willingness to respond differently to their stressors and apply skills to manage their symptoms.
Start Your Psychological Testing In Tampa Or St. Pete Florida
We are happy to offer support from our St. Pete, Fl, and Tampa, FL-based practices in other local areas across the state. If you are interested in being psychologically evaluated and tested in any of these areas please contact us to set up a free consultation. We will set up a consult with one of our psychologists who specializes in the assessment and psychological testing.
Other Services Offered with Wellness Psychological Services
Your evaluator can help connect and refer you to other counseling or therapy services depending on the diagnosis and recommendations. Our counseling clinics in Tampa, FL, and St. Pete, FL offer a variety of therapy services. Each of our therapists is a doctoral-level clinical psychologist or highly trained masters-level clinician who is an expert in the mental health field. The psychologists at our practice also treat Trauma/PTSD, EMDR therapy, stress management, health psychology, depression & bipolar disorder. Our services include DBT, PCIT therapy, and psychological testing & evaluation services and online therapy. If you don’t see your issue listed, please get in touch with Wellness Psychological Services to find out if one of our psychologists can assist you with your unique situation.
Resources
Bross, L. A., Huffman, J. M., & Hagiwara, M. (2022). Examining the special interest areas of autistic adults with a focus on their employment and mental health outcomes. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 57(3), 289-305.
Policy, N. A. N., Silver, C. H., Ruff, R. M., Iverson, G. L., Barth, J. T., Broshek, D. K., … & Planning Committee. (2008). Learning disabilities: The need for neuropsychological evaluation. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 23(2), 217-219.