A referral is not required for your child to see a registered psychologist. However, some extended health plans may ask you for a referral before reimbursing you.

Psychological services are not covered under the provincial Medical Services Plan (MSP). Clients pay out of pocket and seek reimbursement through their extended health insurance (billed under session with a registered psychologist). It’s important to note that because psychological services are a healthcare cost, they are tax-deductible. In some cases, we may be able to directly bill a government agency, learning program or institution (if applicable and pre-approved).

At this time we do not directly bill to your extended health provider or contact your provider on your behalf to determine your plan’s benefits

It’s important to clarify the amount and percentages of services covered by your extended health provider before the assessment or consultation. That way, we can provide you with any specialized receipts required.

Questions you can ask your extended healthcare provider:

• Do I need a referral from a medical doctor to claim?
• What is the dollar amount of my coverage?
• Is the coverage per family member or is there a total for all family members?
• What percentage of services is covered? (80% per session, for example)

*For assessments, some receipts can be put in parents names to maximize your coverage.

We currently have a speech pathologist in the office, and can schedule your child’s speech assessment. Please inquire when booking your psychology assessment.

An assessment is helpful if your child is struggling in school with learning, behaviour, emotional regulation, socialization or attention. This might mean that your child is

• Behind academically (in reading, writing, or mathematics)
• Having difficulty following instructions and completing assigned work
• Having difficulties sustaining attention, being restless or easily distracted
• Not making friends or having difficulties socially
• Presenting with mental health concerns that impact functioning at home and/or school, such as anxiety or excessive sadness
• Presenting with behaviors that are puzzling or concerning to you, and/or others involved with your child (doctors, teachers, childcare providers, for example)
• Advanced in many areas and may be gifted, requiring special programming

Typically, this is beyond the scope of a practitioner working in a school. A certified school psychologist may also be a registered psychologist and qualified to complete these assessments, however usually schools do not assess autism or ADHD evaluations. Please check with your child’s school for more information.

The purpose of an assessment is to provide recommendations that will support the educational needs and learning style of your child. An assessment typically takes four to six weeks, starting from the initial parent meeting to the final meeting to review results and walk through the written report.

We start with a parent intake interview to review your child’s developmental history, areas of strength and challenges. Prior to the session, parents complete a developmental questionnaire (online) for review during the first session. Additional questionnaires may be provided for parents or teachers.

A psycho-educational assessment is 2-3 hours with parents and 4-6 hours of testing with your child. Depending on your child’s age and attention span, this is scheduled in one day with breaks provided, or in two sessions, held one week apart.

Following these sessions, I score and review your child’s information. With your consent, I may contact your child’s school or other providers for information that could aid the assessment process.

My written report summarizes assessment results and outlines recommendations regardless of whether your child receives a diagnosis. Within two to three weeks of your child’s session, we meet to review the report. Parents are welcome to invite other people to this meeting, such as other family members or a school support worker.

Assessments are tailored to your child’s individual needs, and can include:

• Verbal and nonverbal cognitive abilities (knowledge, problem solving, visual spatial skills)
• Memory
• Processing
• Academics (reading, writing, mathematics)
• Attention / impulsivity
• Listening comprehension
• Oral expression
• Vocabulary
• Mental health (anxiety, depression)
• Social skills
• Visual-motor skills (screened)
• Behavioural difficulties

Most children are assessed when their parents, educators or doctors have concerns with their development. Typically, there has already been some intervention but your child continues to struggle.

If you are unsure whether your child needs an assessment, it’s best to come in for a consultation. At this time, we may be able to provide some recommendations for strategies to try at home, although these recommendations are limited without meeting your child.

If you are unsure if your child needs an autism assessment or any other evaluation, you can come in for a consultation to discuss your child’s development. You can also speak with your child’s school/daycare to ask how they engage with other children and if there are behavioural concerns. Seeking a referral from your GP to a paediatrician is advised.

Screening forms are available online:

https://autismcanada.org/autism-explained/screening-tools/

We will provide a developmental history for completion online prior to our meeting. Please email previous reports ahead of time, or bring a copy we can keep to the first session. You may bring your child’s report cards (if applicable), Individual Education Plan (if applicable) and any previous assessment reports (psychological, speech and language or paediatric consult note, for example).

We are available to attend a school-based team meeting via phone or conference call, or in person. There is an additional fee for attending school meetings.

Depending on whether your child receives a diagnosis and what the diagnosis is, your child may be eligible for a B.C. Ministry of Education designation at school. This may qualify your child for an Individual Education Plan and some additional support.

Dr. Carter and her associates are all experienced working in the school system, and are familiar with the designation categories and the types of support available and can provide direction at the feedback meeting. It’s important to note that the school makes decisions about designation and student support. Some diagnoses can qualify your child for funding outside of school, such as autism spectrum disorder. These options will be reviewed during the feedback meeting.

Children under the age of 6 who are assessed privately are required to be evaluated by a speech pathologist and pediatrician, as well as an assessment. Your child should be evaluated by the pediatrician and speech pathologist prior to having the psychological assessment. You will be asked to provide a copy of both reports before your first session. Children over 6 years old only need to be evaluated by a psychologist for a private autism assessment.

If parents/guardians are separated consent from both parents is required by the College of Psychologists before a psychologist see’s your child. If a parent has sole custody and the right to make medical decisions for their child, only consent from this parent is required. You will be asked to provide a legal document stating that you have sole custody before the first session.