A referral is not required for your child to see a registered psychologist. Some extended health plans may ask you for proof of a referral before reimbursing you.

The provincial Medical Services Plan (MSP) does not cover psychological services. Clients pay and seek reimbursement through their extended health coverage. Sometimes, we can bill a government agency, learning program, or institution directly if funding has been pre-approved. We work with third parties like Variety Charity who fund some assessments. Psychological services are also tax-deductible.

No.

E-transfer or cash payments.
We accept direct deposit or cheques from third-party funders.

It is important to clarify the services and amounts covered by your extended health provider before visiting. We can provide specialized receipts as required.

Questions you can ask your extended healthcare provider:

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

*Receipts can sometimes be issued in a parent’s name to maximize coverage.

Yes, and we can schedule your child’s speech assessment. Please ask when booking your psychology assessment.

An assessment is helpful if your child struggles with learning, behaviour, emotional regulation, socialization, or attention. Consider whether your child is:

• Behind academically (in reading, writing, or mathematics)
• Having difficulty following instructions and completing assigned work
• Having difficulties sustaining attention or is restless or easily distracted
• Not making friends or having difficulties socially
• Presenting with mental health concerns that impact functioning at home or school, such as anxiety or excessive sadness
• Needing additional support with daily living tasks or problem solving
• Presenting with behaviours that puzzle or concern you or others involved with your child (doctors, teachers, childcare providers)
• Advanced in many areas and potentially gifted and requiring special programming

An assessment provides recommendations that support your child’s educational needs and learning style. Assessments take four to six weeks, from the initial parent meeting to the final review of results and the written report.

We start with a one to two-hour parent intake interview to review your child’s developmental history and areas of strength and challenge. Before this session, parents complete an online developmental questionnaire for review during the meeting. They also send in documentation for review, such as recent report cards, previous assessment reports, or an Individual Education Plan (IEP). Additional questionnaires are typically provided for parents or teachers to complete, depending on the particular assessment questions.

A psycho-educational assessment includes two to three hours with parents and four to eight hours of testing with your child. Depending on your child’s age and attention span, sessions may be spread across two or four in-person sessions.

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

The written report summarizes assessment results and outlines recommendations regardless of your child’s diagnosis. We meet to review the report within two to three weeks of your child’s session. Parents are welcome to invite others to this meeting, including family members or a school support worker.

Assessments are tailored to your child and may address the following:

• Verbal and nonverbal cognitive abilities (knowledge, problem-solving, visual-spatial skills)
• Memory
• Processing
• Academics (reading, writing, mathematics)
• Attention/impulsivity
• Adaptive functioning
• 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 about their development. Usually, some intervention has already occurred, but the child continues to struggle.

If you are unsure whether your child needs an assessment, it is best to come for a consultation. We may recommend strategies to try at home, though effectiveness may be limited without us first meeting your child.

Come in for a consultation to discuss your child’s development! You can also speak with your child’s school or daycare to ask how they engage with others and if there are behavioural concerns. A referral from your G.P. to a paediatrician is advised to rule out medical concerns.

We will provide an online developmental history questionnaire to complete before our meeting. Please also email/fax/mail documents to us beforehand, including:

• Report cards
• Individual Education Plan (IEP)
• Previous assessment reports, such as psychological, speech and language, paediatric consult notes, or letters from teachers or other professionals

Yes, via phone, video, or in person. An additional fee applies.

Depending on your child’s diagnosis (if any), they may be eligible for a B.C. Ministry of Education designation at school. This may qualify them for an Individual Education Plan (IEP) and additional support, but we cannot guarantee any specific supports.

Our team all have experience working in various school systems (e.g. public, religious, independent). We are familiar with designation categories and available support types and can provide direction at the feedback meeting. It is important to note that the school decides on designation and student support. Some diagnoses, such as autism spectrum disorder, can qualify your child for funding outside of school. These options will be reviewed during the feedback meeting.

Children under six who are assessed privately must also be evaluated by a speech pathologist and paediatrician before the psychological assessment. You will be asked to provide a copy of both reports before your first session. Children over six need only be evaluated by a psychologist for a private autism assessment.

In separation cases, registered psychologists licensed through the College of Health and Care Professionals require consent from both parents before seeing a child. A parent with sole custody, however, has the right to make medical decisions for their child without further consent. In such cases, a legal document substantiating sole custody is required before the first session. Please discuss your unique situation with us and we will advise on the documentation needed.