How To Talk With Your Child/Teen Before the Assessment Process Begins

Caregivers often are unsure of how to discuss an upcoming psychological evaluation with their child. Here are some tips.

• This is an opportunity for us to partner with a psychologist and work together to discover what we can do to support you at home, at school, and in our community. This process is about investigating challenges together, not going in to find out what’s wrong.

  
  

• This is not a test! The assessment consists of many types of activities, games, puzzles, etc. that you will do with Dr. Tamis.

  
  

• Frame the clinic visits in a positive light. Try statements such as: " This will be a chance for us to learn more about how your amazing brain works." "We are going to work tgoether with Dr. Tamis, your teacher, and us to figure out more about why reading seems hard right now and why thinking about math seems to be much easier."

  
  

• Keep it simple. There is no need to dive into lots of details or possible outcomes. Kids are often interested in only the basics to begin with. Then let them ask questions as they have time to think and process.

  
  

• If your child would like more details, think about practicing the following:

  -- Get curious, rather than scared or suspicious about assessment

  -- Articulate what is challenging for them in their own words

  -- Start asking questions about what they want to know from the assessment