Unlocking possibilities with curiousity and care.
Psycho-educational Assessments
ADHD Assessments
Gifted Assessments
Psychoeducational Assessments
Psychoeducational assessments help understand:
A child’s strengths in how they think and learn.
Why a child may be having trouble with reading, writing, or math skills, following instructions, learning or remembering new things, paying attention, following along with their peers, or staying organized.
If a child has dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADHD, or an intellectual disability.
If anxiety, depressions, or other mental health factors are impacting a child’s ability to learn.
How to best support your child with practical strategies and next steps.
Find out more about psychoeducational assessments in the FAQs below.
ADHD Assessments:
A comprehensive ADHD assessment can help to identify if difficulties with attention, distractibility, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity are making school, friendships, or other activities hard for your child. This assessment can also identify your child’s strengths, ways to support your child, and if there are other factors that might be impacting them.
ADHD stands for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. There are three subtypes:
A child with the inattentive subtype has a hard time focusing on things that aren’t their main interests, but can focus for a long time on their favourite activities. They might often lose their jackets/hoodies/water bottles and forget their lunch at home. They might be easily distracted and have difficulty finishing what they start.
2. A child with the hyperactive/impulsive subtype might have a really hard time sitting still. They might need to always be moving or talking and might have a hard time stopping when they need to. They can act without thinking, interrupt others, and have a hard time waiting in a line.
3. A child with the combined subtype has difficulties with attention AND with hyperactivity/impulsivity.
Find out more about assessments in the FAQs below.
Gifted Assessments:
Gifted assessments help identify if a child’s intellectual abilities are much higher than would be expected for their age. While gifted is not it’s own diagnosis, it can help identify children who need additional challenges. Children who are gifted often have different difficulties, like unique worries, attention difficulties, or social challenges. A comprehensive assessment will identify not only what is going well for a child who is gifted, but also things that may be causing them difficulties.
Find out more about assessments in the FAQs below.
Assessment FAQs
What is involved?
I aim to understand who your child is as a person. That means the assessment is more than just the direct testing with your child! Each part of the assessment provides important information.
Intake: Parents complete an intake form and attend a 60-90 minute parent interview. Teens are invited to join this interview, but are not obligated to attend.
Assessment sessions: This generally includes two 3 hour direct assessment sessions with your child. These sessions will include assessment measures aimed to understand different abilities related to thinking and learning. In these sessions, they will meet with Dr. Kelm as well as a psychometrist.
Questionnaires: Completed by parents, teachers, and your child.
Record review: Dr. Kelm reviewed your child’s report cards, and any other previous assessments.
Feedback session and report: 3-4 weeks after assessment sessions, Dr. Kelm meets with parents to review the results, discuss any diagnoses if applicable, and discuss recommendations and next steps for supporting your child. Your child is invited to attend that session or may meet with Dr. Kelm separately. A written report is provided to parents within one week of this meeting.
What are the benefits?
Understanding, validation, and empowerment.
Assessments can help parents, teachers, and the youth themselves understand the child’s strengths as well as factors that may be making things difficult for the youth. This knowledge can provide youth with a sense of validation and can help to reframe their understanding of themselves. Through practical recommendations, children and their parents can feel empowered in their path forward.
Dr. Kelm’s approach:
Collaborative, comprehensive, compassionate.
I aim to work in partnership with you and your child, and hope that all families feel respected, validated, and understood throughout the process. I take a neurodiversity affirming and strengths based approach, while also identifying factors that may be contributing to difficulties at school or at home.